Battle Over Sotomayor Heats Up

As White House Gathers Backers, Conservatives Heighten Attacks on Judge's Record

Both parties braced for a summertime confirmation battle over Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, with the White House gathering a team to push her through, and conservative critics sharpening attacks on her past speeches and writings.

In the first wave of TV ads about the nomination, one paid for by a liberal group called Judge Sotomayor, nominated for a Supreme Court seat by President Barack Obama on Tuesday, a...