By Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor sought to answer critics on Tuesday with a vow to follow the law "ultimately and completely," and a key senator said he wanted confirmation hearings next month so she can rebut what he called unfounded charges of racism.

"With the attacks that have been going on against her, I think it would probably be irresponsible to leave her hanging out there" until September, when Republicans favor a hearing, said Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, a Democrat.

Sotomayor, a former prosecutor and private attorney who has served as a federal judge for the past 17 years, appears certain to be confirmed by the heavily Democratic-controlled Senate as the first Hispanic on the nation's highest court -- and U.S. President Barack Obama's first nominee to the court.

Leahy said he had asked Sotomayor about a comment that critics have seized on in which she said a Latina woman might as a judge reach a "better conclusion" than a white male.

"What she said was, 'Of course one's life experience shapes who you are,'" Leahy said.

"But ultimately and completely -- and she used those words, ultimately and completely -- as a judge you follow the law."

The panel's ranking Republican, Senator Jeff Sessions said his party wanted to carefully review more than 3,000 of her court cases. "I don't think it's good to rush this nomination."

Leahy and Sessions spoke to reporters after they and other senators met with Sotomayor who made courtesy calls on Capitol Hill.