Senate Republicans pressed President Joe Biden’s nominees for federal judgeships on Wednesday to divulge their personal beliefs on a range of hot-button social issues, in a contentious line of questioning that highlighted deep skepticism of the candidates’ judicial philosophies.

One nominee, Georgette Castner for the District of New Jersey, faced criticism during a meeting of the Senate Judiciary Committee for attending an event organized by a pro-gun-control group in 2018, while another, Julie Rubin for the district of Maryland, was grilled over comments she made years ago on a public-radio show.