My preliminary reflections on day three of the Sotomayor hearings are now up on WashingtonPost.com here.

UPDATE: The NYT reports that, since Sotomayor's confirmation is all-but assured, "both sides are trying to use the Judiciary Committee hearings to define the parameters of an acceptable nomination in case another seat opens up during Mr. Obama's presidency. By forcing Judge Sotomayor to retreat from Mr. Obama's desire for justices with 'empathy,' Republicans have effectively set a new standard that future nominees will be pressed to meet."