Watch: Sonia Sotomayor faces Senate Judiciary Committee

— -- Senate Republicans plan to confront Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor with her own words from speeches years ago and more recently decisions she rendered as appeals court judge that were later reversed by the Supreme Court.

Sotomayor's confirmation hearing resumes in the Senate Judiciary Committee with question-and-answer rounds that are expected to stretch from Tuesday possibly into Thursday.

In additiion to her 2001 remark about hoping that "a wise Latina" would more often than not reach a better decision than a white male who lacked the same experience, Sotomayor will be questioned about her appeals court decision dismissing a reverse discrimination suit by white New Haven, Conn., firefighters.

The Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision two weeks ago, overturned that ruling by Sotomayor and two other judges on the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in New York.

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., Sotomayor's biggest champion in the confirmation hearings, said Tuesday that the firefighters' case shows that she follows precedent and is not an activist judge.

"If she was on the 2nd Circuit today, she'd probably rule the other way" because of the Supreme Court's decision, Schumer said on CNN.

Democrats and Republicans alike spoke glowingly Monday about the 55-year-old appeals court judge's rise from public housing in the Bronx to her nomination to be the first Hispanic and only the third woman on the Supreme Court.

"I would hope every American is proud that a Hispanic woman has been nominated to sit on the Supreme Court," said Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz.

But the GOP made clear, despite the Democrats' Senate majority that makes her confirmation likely, it will not let Sotomayor's hearings pass without raising questions about her impartiality. By extension, Republicans also are attacking President Obama for what they see as a double standard in calling for her quick confirmation after voting against President George W. Bush's two high-court appointees.