Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback today delivered a Senate floor speech announcing why he will vote against the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court.

His statement:

“After meeting with Judge Sotomayor, reviewing her past judicial decisions, and learning more of her philosophy, I have decided that I will vote against her nomination to the Supreme Court.

“Judge Sotomayor has indicated through past rulings and in her writings that she believes the judiciary should take an activist role and make laws, instead of upholding the law. As Chief Justice Roberts said, a justice should be an impartial umpire, not a player in the game.  I am afraid Judge Sotomayor wants to be more of a player than an umpire."

Brownback met this month with Sotomayor, who currently serves as a judge on the 2nd Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals.  Brownback voted against her nomination to that position in 1998.

The Senate will begin the Sotomayor nomination hearings on July 13.

Brownback also said: “In her writings, Judge Sotomayor has rejected the principle of impartiality and embraces the novel idea that a judge’s personal life story should come into play in the courtroom.  I’m not sure why Judge Sotomayor believes the law is somehow different when interpreted by people of different backgrounds.

"I think Judge Sotomayor is absolutely wrong, and that we do a disservice to law and society when we don’t transcend our personal sympathies and prejudices.  Judge Sotomayor’s view is contrary to the words engraved above the Supreme Court’s entrance: equal justice under law."