Sessions thinks that the affection for Sotomayor’s personal story demonstrates the sensitivity of his fellow senators towards her nomination, and the judiciousness with which they had considered the testimony. The fact that they are able to separate these details may represent a turning point for the Senate and the American public towards the ideas of constitutional impartiality and leaving politics off the bench.
“I think it projected well on her that people respect her, they'd talked through it,” he said. “Even though they'd like to have voted for this nominee – the first Hispanic Supreme Court candidate – with a good personal story, they felt that they couldn't justify doing so. So I think that the Senate is taking these issues seriously.”