* Leahy wants July hearing for Sotomayor to answer charges

* Republicans say don't rush confirmation process

(Updates with Reid comments)

By Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON, June 2 (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.