Whitehouse thumbs-up speech for nominee

The junior Rhode Island senator, and former state Attorney General, Sheldon Whitehouse, threw his support behind Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor in a speech to the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday.

"I do not wish to force... the sort of judges who (to paraphrase a recent article on the Supreme Court) in every major case vote for the corporation against the individual, for the government against the criminal defendant, and for the executive branch against the legislature. I do not wish judges without empathy," said Sen. Whitehouse.

"It is an honor... to vote for such a talented and exceptional person," and Whitehouse said he expects she will be an excellent justice.

The committee's 16-6 vote Tuesday sends the nomination to the full Senate, which is expected to approve Sotomayor next week.

You can read Sen. Whitehouse's full speech as delivered here , or watch the video provided by the Senate at this link .