Judge Sonia Sotomayor's 17 years of opinions and commentary offer a Senate panel the basis to determine her bone fides for a U.S. Supreme Court appointment.

Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday were to begin their questioning of Sotomayor, the second day of what is expected to be a week-long hearing on her nomination to the nation's top court.

On Monday, senators from both parties staked out their positions in Sotomayor's confirmation process, with Democrats' opening remarks focusing on her judicial record and Republicans' comments honing in on remarks she made when not in her judicial robes.

Hecklers interrupted Monday's proceedings three times, with Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy of Vermont admonishing protesters as they were escorted from the chamber by Capitol police.

One woman cuffed by officers was Norma McCorvey -- better known as Jane Roe of Roe v. Wade, the landmark abortion case -- who yelled to the panel about overturning the divisive decision as she exited, The Washington Post reported. In 1971, McCorvey was poor and pregnant from being raped, she said. Since the 1973 ruling she said she has had a change of belief and became and an anti-abortion activist.

McCorvey, 61, was one of four people arrested and charged with disorderly conduct.

Sotomayor's position on abortion isn't publicly known.