WASHINGTON (July 23, 2009)--The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is endorsing Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, whom the organization calls a well-qualified judge who would be fair and evenhanded on business issues.

The big business lobby's president, Thomas J. Donohue, says Sotomayor has seen firsthand the burdens the legal system places on businesses.

Meanwhile, the National Rifle Association is warning senators that it will consider their votes on Sotomayor as part of its influential annual ratings of lawmakers.

The NRA says she has a hostile view of the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. It announced last week that it was opposing her nomination.

The developments come as Sotomayor visits on Capitol Hill with conservative Republicans including Sens. Richard Burr of North Carolina, John Barasso of Wyoming and John Ensign of Nevada.

The Senate is expected to confirm Sotomayor in early August.