Sonia Sotomayor

Sonia Sotomayor in SCOTUS robe

Sonia Sotomayor (born June 25, 1954) is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. She was nominated by President Barack Obama on May 26, 2009, and has served since August 8, 2009. Sotomayor is the first Hispanic and Latina member of the Court.

Early Life and Education

Sotomayor was born in The Bronx, New York City, to Puerto Rican-born parents. Her father died when she was nine, and she was subsequently raised by her mother. She graduated as valedictorian from Cardinal Spellman High School in 1972. Sotomayor earned her Bachelor of Arts from Princeton University in 1976, graduating summa cum laude and receiving the university's highest academic honor. She obtained her Juris Doctor from Yale Law School in 1979, where she was an editor of the Yale Law Journal.

Legal Career

After graduating from Yale, Sotomayor worked as an assistant district attorney in New York County for four and a half years. She then entered private practice, working as a partner at the law firm Pavia & Harcourt, where she specialized in intellectual property litigation.

Federal Judicial Service

In 1991, President George H. W. Bush nominated Sotomayor to the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. She was confirmed in 1992. In 1997, she was nominated by President Bill Clinton to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and she was confirmed in 1998.

Supreme Court Nomination and Tenure

On May 26, 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Sotomayor to the Supreme Court of the United States to replace retiring Justice David Souter. She was confirmed by the United States Senate on August 6, 2009, by a vote of 68-31.

As a Supreme Court Justice, Sotomayor has been known for her concern for the rights of defendants, her support of criminal justice reform, and her advocacy for the rights of women and minorities. She has also been a strong voice on issues of race, gender, and ethnic identity.

Personal Life

Sotomayor has been open about her diagnosis with Type 1 diabetes since childhood. She has also been active in various community and professional organizations, including the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, the New York City Campaign Finance Board, and the State of New York Mortgage Agency.

See Also

• Supreme Court of the United States
• Barack Obama
• Hispanic and Latino Americans
• Princeton University
• Yale Law School