Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Sen. Sam Brownback became the third senator to officially declare his opposition to the Supreme Court nomination of appeals court Judge Sonia Sotomayor. Brownback joined in the fears that have prompted the pro-life community to label her pro-abortion by saying she will be a judicial activist.

In a speech on the Senate floor on Wednesday, Brownback said he will vote against Sotomayor's nomination should the Senate Judiciary Committee send it to the floor.

"Judge Sotomayor has indicated through past rulings and in her writings that she believes the judiciary should take an activist role and make laws, instead of upholding the law," he said.

The pro-life Kansas Republican added, "As Chief Justice [John G.] Roberts said, a justice should be an impartial umpire, not a player in the game. I am afraid Judge Sotomayor wants to be more of a player than an umpire."

Brownback, who is not seeking re-election but will likely be the Republican nominee for governor of Kansas next year, was a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee until this year.

His comments put him in league with pro-life Sens. Pat Roberts, also of Kansas, and Jim Inhofe, of Oklahoma, who have also publicly announced their opposition to Sotomayor.

Inhofe told the Tulsa World last week his opposition "was a foregone conclusion" and he pointed out that he voted against her in 1998 for a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. That's the current position she holds.

Brownback's opposition follows on the heels of Senate Republican leaders criticizing Sotomayor as the July date for her committee hearing draws closer.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, and top Judiciary Republican Jeff Sessions, all pro-life, began critiquing Sotomayor in consecutive floor speeches.

“The American people, I don't think, want judges who believe that they have been endowed with some power to impose their views for what is otherwise the law,” Cornyn said. “Americans believe ... that judges should by definition show self-restraint and respect for the other branches of government.”

McConnell agreed, and said "Judges are supposed to be passionate advocates for the evenhanded reading and fair application of the law, not their own policies and preferences."

Pro-life groups have also upped their opposition to Sotomayor, and the president of Americans United for Life released a new editorial on Monday saying she will be more pro-abortion than Justice David Souter, the abortion advocate she would replace.

Sign Up for Free Pro-Life News From LifeNews.com