Judge Sonia Sotomayor is the Supreme Court Nominee

by A. Tran | May 26, 2009 at 06:15 am

2249 views | 94 Recommendations | 24 comments

Breaking News: President Obama has chosen federal Judge Sonia Sotomayor from New York, as his nominee for the United States Supreme Court on Tuesday, May 26.

President Barack Obama called Judge Sonia Sotomayor at 9 PM on Memorial Day to say she was his pick for the Supreme Court.

President Obama has used a propitious opportunity to burnish his legacy with this historic nomination.

The Supreme Court Justice is a uniquely lifetime appointment conferred by the United States Constitution to insure the independence of the Supreme Court from Presidential and Congressional influences. Once the confirmation is made, the President no longer has the power to remove the Justices. Congress can try to impeach a Justice through a complicated and long process. The last time such impeachment attempt was made in 1804 and it failed.

Ms. Sotomayor is the first Latina and third female U.S. Supreme Court justice, if she is confirmed. Judge Sotomayor has more diverse experience than any other previous Supreme Court nominees at the time of their nominations.

Judge Sotomayor has a compelling personal story for having grown up in the housing project in the South Bronx, New York. She grew up in the housing project along Bruckner Expressway, along Rosedale Avenue, and a train ride to the Yankee Stadium, both old and new.

Ms. Sotomayor attended and graduated from Princeton and Yale law school on scholarships. In her acceptance speech, Ms. Sotomayor pointed out her background in working as a corporate lawyer, prosecutor, private practice lawyer, and judge.

She said, "I am humbled by President Obama's decision to nominate me to the highest court of the nation." Ms. Sotomayor credited her mother, Celina Sotomayor, a single parent for raising her brother, Juan Sotomayor, a physician, and her by working at two jobs.

Sotomayor, a 54-year-old judge on the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, was named a U.S. District Court judge by President George H.W. Bush in 1992, and was elevated to her current seat by President Clinton.

The conservative community has already criticized Judge Sotomayor for some of her more controversial statements and the recent decision on the firefighters in Connecticut.

"Judge Sotomayor is a liberal judicial activist of the first order who thinks her own personal political agenda is more important that the law as written," said Wendy Long, counsel to the conservative Judicial Confirmation Network.

"She thinks that judges should dictate policy and that one's sex, race and ethnicity ought to affect the decisions one renders from the bench. ... She has an extremely high rate of her decisions being reversed, indicating that she is far more of a liberal activist than even the current liberal activist Supreme Court."

Her supporters said that she is a moderate and has been previously nominated by President George H. W. Bush, which would give her some bipartisan backing in the Senate. She is a known moderate and well respected by both Republicans and Democrats who work with her in the state of New York.

From the Manhattan District Attorney, Robert M. Morgenthau:

President Obama has made an outstanding choice in selecting Judge Sonia Sotomayor to serve on the United States Supreme Court.

From the New York State Attorney General, Andrew M. Cuomo:

Judge Sonia Sotomayor’s journey from the Bronx to Supreme Court nominee is a true New York success story. She is a distinguished and thoughtful voice whose years of judicial expertise will be pivotal as the Supreme Court tackles historic issues vital to all Americans. Just as Justices Marshall and O’Connor broke down centuries-old barriers, Judge Sotomayor is a trailblazer whose accomplishments will serve as an inspiration for women, minorities and all New Yorkers.

According to her previous law clerk, Judge Sotomayor is personable and accessible although she is also has high expectations of her clerks.

Robyn Kar, who clerked for Sotomayor from 1998 to 1999, described her as a "warm, extraordinarily kind and caring person."

"She has an amazing story, but she's also just an amazing person," he said, adding that she has a knack for getting to know those around her. "She was the judge who, in the courthouse for example, knew all of the doormen, knew the cafeteria workers, who knew the janitors -- she didn't just know all of the other judges and the politicians. She really went out of her way to get to know everyone and was well loved by everyone."

It was Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) who submitted her name to President Obama for consideration.

More to follow as the story develops.

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Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 07:24 on May 26th, 2009

Biography of Sotomayor:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonia_Sotomayor

CBC Newsworld reported on Judge Sotomayor and mentioned her experience as a prosecutor, trial lawyer and the Federal Court. Their assessment is that Republicans are already calling her the most liberal activist judge. Republicans face a dilemna in opposing her. First the Democrats have a majority in both the House and Senate. In addition she is the first Latina appointed to the Highest Court in the land. Latinos have the largest swing vote in the country. They believe that she has a 99.9% of getting confirmed.

Jarrett Martineau

at 07:22 on May 26th, 2009

Thanks for this.

A. Tran

at 07:58 on May 26th, 2009

Thanks so much, Jarrett, for your comment and recommendation. It is a fairly safe nomination given Judge Sotomayor's moderate stance, although I expect there will be some fights during the Senate confirmation hearings.

Merry Rebel

at 08:03 on May 26th, 2009

Truly breaking, thanks a lot for sharing.

A. Tran

at 08:26 on May 26th, 2009

Thanks so much, Nauman Umair, for your recommendation, comment, and interest in the US Supreme Court.

Merry Rebel

at 06:17 on May 27th, 2009

You're most welcome.

Uwe Paschen

at 08:23 on May 26th, 2009

She is Puerto Rican-American. She does have an interesting carer resume.

A. Tran

at 08:29 on May 26th, 2009

Thanks so much, Paschen, for your recommendation and comment.

She has worked with Republicans and Democrats in the state of New York throughout her years in federal court system. She was a tough prosecutor in the Southern District of Manhattan, New York.

Spydermonkey

at 08:26 on May 26th, 2009

Good & timely information :)

But for some reason, I get the feeling that when they get to discussing her nomination in the Senate there will be the typical brouhaha over silly stuff....

I hope I'm wrong.... but my 2cents worth anyway

A. Tran

at 08:48 on May 26th, 2009

Thanks so much, Spydermonkey, for your recommendation and comment.

As I mentioned earlier, it is expected that some fights would occur between Republicans and Democracts during the Senate Confirmation hearing. It is how Judge Sotomayor responds to the Senators' questions will be an important consideration.

Ravinwood_777

at 09:05 on May 26th, 2009

Nothing Chairman Obama does surprises me these days. All I can say is, "what did you people expect" somebody with a little credibility instead of a fancy résumé and law degree? Now were one step closer to becoming nothing!!!

America's fallen and cannot get up

René

at 10:42 on May 26th, 2009

1st Latin-American, not exactly.

René

at 11:02 on May 26th, 2009

No, sorry, wrong link. Here's about the 1st .

A. Tran

at 13:16 on May 26th, 2009

Thank you, Sara Star for your recommendation.

A. Tran

at 11:56 on May 27th, 2009

As the article clearly stated, Latina, which is female designation. Judge Sotomayor is the first Latina Supreme Court nominee. Thanks.

Rhonda J Mangus

at 17:39 on May 26th, 2009

Thanks for this, Pythiian1. I would like to mention that highly qualified and openly lesbian, neither Virginia Linder or Kathleen Sullivan, were (obviously:)) nominated by President Obama for the position of Supreme Court Justice on the nation's highest court.

A. Tran

at 18:02 on May 26th, 2009

Thanks so much, Rhonda, for your recommendation and added information regarding the other candidates. Like I wrote earlier, the article was written as the news occurred when the President made his announcement.

Rhonda J Mangus

at 18:09 on May 26th, 2009

You are very welcome, Pythiian1. I understand that the article was written as the news occurred. I just wanted to mention that neither Linder or Sullivan were (again, obviously:)) not nominated.

duo

at 21:15 on May 26th, 2009

Judge Sotomayor seems like a fine choice. I wish her luck. It would be great if the High Court's lifetime appointments were downgraded to ten years or so. Judges seem to live forever, and they report to work to their dying day!

A. Tran

at 11:47 on May 27th, 2009

Thank you so much, Duo, for your recommendation and comments.

As my article mentioned, the Supreme Court Justice is a lifetime position that is conferred by constitutional design to grant the Justices independence from Presidential and Congressional influences.

Each Justice has a choice to work as long as he or she wishes, and based on past and recent examples, some have chosen retirement such Justices Thurgood Marshall, Byron White, Harry Blackmun, Sandra Day O'Connor, and David Souter, to name a few.

duo

at 15:22 on May 27th, 2009

I hope some more decide to enjoy their golden years while Obama is president. Thanks!

Karen Hatter

at 18:33 on May 27th, 2009

The excerpt from a speech delivered by Judge Sotomayor in October 2001quoted above :

"“wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences,” including appreciation for Latin-American cuisine, “would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn’t lived that life.”

- is quoted out of context and refers to comments made by former Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

A link to the full text of Judge Sotomayor's remarks can be found here.

Excerpted from the same speech:

Each day on the bench I learn something new about the judicial process and being a professional Latina woman in a world that sometimes looks at me with suspicion. I am reminded each day that I render decisions that affect people concretely and that I owe them constant and complete vigilance in checking my assumptions, presumptions and perspectives and ensuring to the extent of my limited abilities and capabilities permit me, that I reevaluate them and change as circumstances and cases before me requires. I can and do aspire to be greater than the sum total of my experiences but I accept my limitations. I willingly accept that we who judge must not deny the differences resulting from experience and heritage but attempt, as the Supreme Court suggests, continuously to judge when those opinions, sympathies and prejudices are appropriate.

integrityforamerica

at 21:02 on May 27th, 2009

Some how I am not focused on her race, I am not even focused on where she comes from, but i think what is most important is her history on the bench and what she stands for as a judge. We have to at some point set aside politics and start rebuilding this country, I for one and so against focusing on the little issues like race and gender, I am so concerned with big issues like policies, beliefs, integrity and honesty. Black, white or spanish, male or female doesnt matter. Integrity is what matters most.

www.integrityforamerica.org (thats my new organization)

integrityforamerica.blogspot.com

www.twitter.com/integritynews