Ranking member Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., took Sonia Sotomayor to task this afternoon over her role as a board member in LatinoJustice PRLDEF for 12 years starting in 1980. Republicans are concerned with memos and briefs the organization has signed onto that take positions on abortion, affirmative action and the death penalty.

During questioning on Tuesday by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Sotomayor emphasized that the main duty of PRLDEF board members was fundraising. "To the extent that we looked at the organization's legal work, it was to ensure it was consistent with the broad mission statement of the fund," she said.

"But clearly, board members are supposed to serve other functions," Sessions countered today. Sotomayor reiterated that the legal memos in question were a "moment in our 12-year history" and that, as she said yesterday, her focus had been on the broader goals of the group.

Sessions also revisited nearly all of the GOP's other main concerns, including the "wise Latina woman" remark, judicial activism and gun rights. The next Republican up for his second round of questions -- Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah -- grilled Sotomayor on gun rights too, as well as the "empathy" question. Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., has emphasized that he doesn't want the same senators to ask the same questions, but not surprisingly, his colleagues across the aisle have not complied. All 19 committee members will receive another 20 minutes each to ask questions of the nominee, if they want it.

When asked by reporters during a recess about the timetable of the hearings and the repetitive questioning, Leahy said that he is a "very patient man. I have a six-year term. I'll stay here as long as they want."

Once the second round of questioning is complete, the committee will hear from outside witnesses, including more than a dozen called on by Sessions and Leahy, and two from the American Bar Association.