ACS yesterday held a panel discussion at the National Press Club on Judge Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the Supreme Court. The panel was moderated by Slate's Dahlia Lithwick and included Wade Henderson, president of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, Edward Whelan, president of the Ethics and Policy Center, and Cristina Rodriguez, professor of law at the New York University School of Law, who engaged in lively discussion and debate.

Henderson called some of the questioning of Sotomayor's qualifications "partisan rancor." He said he has "no problem" with those who want to examine Sotomayor's record, including her academic achievements, but that he "deeply resents" the actions of some her critics who belittle her qualifications, while elevating issues of controversy. Watch a YouTube excerpt of Henderson's comments:

Whelan, also a writer for a National Review blog, said "Sonia Sotomayor has an inspiring life story, admirable in lots and lots of respect," but offered a number of concerns about what he called her readiness to serve on the high court. Watch a YouTube excerpt of Whelan's comments below.

The third panelist, Professor Christina Rodriguez, talked about how experiences of judges shape their ability to hear and decide cases in the following YouTube clip.

Click on picture below for the entire panel discussion.