Supreme Court Justice
Sonia Sotomayor
MALDEF created the Sotomayor for Justice website to celebrate her nomination and the Historical significance of the nomination
To Hispanics, the nomination stands as an absolute historic landmark. As a milestone, it really is impossible to overstate its significance. The achievement of a lifetime appointment at the absolute highest levels of the government provides a profound event for that community, which in turn is a vital electoral group now and in the future. Source from the Scotus Blog
Comadres tell us that as Hispanas/Latinas...
- We don't do anything alone, we do everything with the help and support of Comadres, family, and friends around us.
- We are colorful, vibrant, and hard working women.
- We connect with and nurture those around us.
- We often sell ourselves short, but never sellout our dreams.
- We overcome obstacles in our lives.
- We build the best in ourselves.
- When we use the word 'we'…there is not a mouse in our pocket…life is not a vacuum.
- We means me and you, mis hermanas…my Comadres as a force of nature with which to be reckoned and as a united voice of hope.
"Sotomayor’s accomplishments have been an effort of 'we' …her experiences as a Latina, her life as a woman, her ability to parcel out the rule of law as a judge in a man’s world. If confirmed, the 'we' Judge Sotomayor carries in her heart and mind will help her interpret the Constitution of the United States of America….because she has 'we' supporting her… 'We the people…'” Mary Armesto
Facts about Supreme Court Justice Nominee Sonia Sotomayor
- Graduated summa cum laude in history from Princeton University in 1976
- Former editor of the Yale Law Journal
- Became an assistant district attorney in New York County after graduating from Yale law school in 1979
- Worked for eight years at the midtown law firm of Pavia & Harcourt
- Nominated by Republican President George H.W. Bush in 1992 to become a federal judge in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- Nominated to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals by President Bill Clinton and confirmed by a 68-28 vote. Served 11 years.
- In a 2001 lecture titled “A Latina Judge’s Voice”, she made the controversial statement: “I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more
often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life.” Source
"A staple of her speeches"
- This year, President Obama nominated Sotomayor to succeed Justice David Souter on the U.S. Supreme Court.
- Would be the only experienced trial lawyer on the U.S. Supreme Court
- In the words of the White House Office of the Press Secretary:
"If confirmed for the Supreme Court, Judge Sotomayor would bring more federal judicial experience to the Supreme Court than any justice in 100 years, and more overall judicial experience than anyone confirmed for the Court in the past 70 years." Source
What you might know or not know about Sonia Sotomayor
- At the tender age of 8, Sotomayor dealt with juvenile diabetes which could not have been easy for her mother who worked two jobs to keep a pot of rice and beans on the stove and provide health care/insulin for her children/daughter.
- Sotomayor did not allow her infirmity to keep her from her goals, aspirations, and dreams.
- Reading the Nancy Drew series and watching Perry Mason gave her a love of literature, love of investigation, and admiration for the application of the rule of law.
- Sotomayor’s down to earth upbringing affords her being just at ease on the street corner eating a hot dog and watching a baseball game than if she was eating in a fancy restaurant with lawyers and politicians.
- Republican President George W Bush nominated her to become a federal judge in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York.
- Democratic President Bill Clinton’s nomination of Sotomayor to the appeals court was delayed for 15 months because some Senators were afraid she might be nominated to the Supreme Court.
- She encourages and teaches inner-city children with a courthouse program that lets children prosecute Goldilocks from the story, “Goldilocks and the Three Bears.”
- During her walks through the courthouse, Sotomayor connects with the guards in the lobby or a clerical worker from another chambers. She understands the best persons to know are the people who secure and maintain the buildings in which we work…maintenance men, cleaning ladies, guards, etc.
- Sotomayor is divorced, does not have children, and her brother became a doctor. Source
Links to sites about Sonia Sotomayor
MALDEF created the Sotomayor for Justice website
Sotomayor: Projects to Supreme Court
Sonia Sotomayor on judgepedia.com
White House pictorial biography
White House press release on Sotomayor’s background
AP News interactive timeline of Sotomayor’s life
The Huffington Post has a list of 10 things that you need to know about Sotomayor
The New York Times has a list of Sotomayor’s most notable court opinions and articles
Sotomayor nomination has ignited passion from all sides (Poder360.com)
Public Service Announcement on behalf of the confirmation of Judge Sonia Sotomayor
NEW The media's double standard treatment of Sotomayor
Sotomayor's story will leave an imprint that lasts a lifetime
GOP Against Sotomayor
GOP is struggling for an anti-Sotomayor message (Associated Press)
Colin Powell jabs Republicans for calling Sotomayor racist (Huffington Post)
According to ShortFormBlog, Republicans have appeared to give up the fight against Sotomayor
Sotomayor on the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund's board
Partisan Sparks Fly as Examination of Puerto Rican Legal Defense Continues on Sotomayor (Senatus blog)
Republicans question Sotomayor's views because of seat on PRLDEF board (legalnewsline.com)
Polls
Fox News poll finds that 46% of Americans would confirm Sotomayor
Overturned Rulings
One of her rulings overturned (Newsy.com)
Public support slipping due to Supreme Court's reversal of Sotomayor's decision (powerlineblog.com)
Factcheck.org debunks Limbaugh’s statement that her decisions have been overturned 80% of the time
Belizean Grove Controversy
Sotomayor defends membership to all women’s networking group (New York Times)
Sotomayor withdraws from Belizean Grove amid criticism (Latina.com)
NCLR monitored the Congressional debate on Sotomayor on its website
NCLR article petitions to denounce the character assault against Sotomayor
Puerto Rican Legal Defense Fund created the Justice for Justice Sotomayor website
Colleagues, Vice President Biden, and members of eight law enforcement organizations expressed support for Sotomayor (Washington Post)
New York Time contributor believes that her justice is blind
Is Sotomayor a racist? (Huffington Post)