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Undid revision 291306548 by Will Beback (talk). I thought it was a good link. There was discussion on talk page about it.
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*[http://www.abanet.org/publiced/hispanic_s.html ABA Profile], National Hispanic Heritage Month 2000
*[http://www.abanet.org/publiced/hispanic_s.html ABA Profile], National Hispanic Heritage Month 2000
*[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE7D8173AF936A1575AC0A964958260&sec=&spon=&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink "A Breakthrough Judge: What She Always Wanted"] early profile from 1992
*[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE7D8173AF936A1575AC0A964958260&sec=&spon=&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink "A Breakthrough Judge: What She Always Wanted"] early profile from 1992
*[http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/judge-sotomayors-appellate-opinions-in-civil-cases/ SCOTUSBlog: Judge Sotomayor's Appellate Opinions in Civil Cases]
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Revision as of 06:53, 21 May 2009

Sonia Sotomayor
Sotomayor, 2003
Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit
Incumbent
Assumed office
October 7, 1998
Nominated byBill Clinton
Preceded byJ. Daniel Mahoney
Personal details
Born (1954-06-25) June 25, 1954 (age 70)
The Bronx, New York
NationalityUnited States
Alma materYale Law School (J.D.)
Princeton University (A.B.)

Sonia Sotomayor (born June 25, 1954 in The Bronx, New York) is a federal judge on the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Sotomayor is considered to be a leading candidate to replace retiring Justice David Souter on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Early life and family

The daughter of parents born in Puerto Rico, Sotomayor grew up in a housing project in the South Bronx, just a short walk from Yankee Stadium.[1][2] She was diagnosed with diabetes at age 8.[3] Her father, a tool-and-die worker with a third-grade education, died the following year.[4] Her mother, a nurse, raised Sotomayor and her younger brother, who is now a doctor, on a modest salary. In 1976 Sotomayor married while still a student at Princeton University, and divorced in 1983.[3]

Sonia Sotomayor graduated from Cardinal Spellman High School in the Bronx. She earned her A.B. from Princeton University, summa cum laude, in 1976, where she won the Pyne Prize, the highest general award given to Princeton undergraduates.[5] Sotomayor obtained her J.D. from Yale Law School in 1979, where she was an editor of the Yale Law Journal. Sotomayor then served as an Assistant District Attorney under prominent New York County District Attorney Robert Morgenthau, prosecuting robberies, assaults, murders, police brutality, and child pornography cases. In 1984, she entered private practice, making partner at the commercial litigation firm of Pavia & Harcourt, where she specialized in intellectual property litigation.[1][4][6]

Federal judicial service

Widely considered a political centrist[3][4][6][7][8][9][10][11] by the American Bar Association Journal[6][7] and others,[3][4][8][9][10][11] Sotomayor was nominated on November 27, 1991, by President George H. W. Bush to a seat on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York vacated by John M. Walker, Jr. (the president's cousin). She became the youngest judge in the Southern District[11] and the first Hispanic federal judge anywhere in New York State.[12]

It is the longstanding practice in most states, including New York, for home-state Senators of both parties to play roles in recommending individuals for Federal District Court judgeships.[13] According to a blog post by conservative activist Ed Whelan, Democratic Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan of New York suggested Sotomayor's name to President Bush.[14]

Sotomayor was confirmed by the United States Senate on August 11, 1992, and received her commission the next day.

On March 30, 1995, she issued the preliminary injunction against Major League Baseball, preventing MLB from unilaterally implementing a new Collective Bargaining Agreement and using replacement players, thus ending the 1994 baseball strike.[2][15]

In another high-profile case, she issued an order allowing the Wall Street Journal to publish Vince Foster's suicide note.[16]

Confirmation as Court of Appeals Judge

On June 25, 1997, she was nominated by former President Bill Clinton to the seat she now holds, which was vacated by J. Daniel Mahoney.

Her nomination was approved overwhelmingly by the Senate Judiciary Committee, but became "embroiled in the sometimes tortured judicial politics of the Senate," as some Republicans said they did not want to consider the nomination because elevating Sotomayor to the Appeals Court would enhance her prospects of being appointed to the Supreme Court.[17][18] An anonymous senator put a secret hold on her nomination, blocking it for over a year. Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy called the length of the hold "disturbing," "petty," and "shameful," also noting that at that time, "[o]f the 10 judicial nominees whose nominations have been pending the longest before the Senate, eight are women and racial or ethnic minority candidates."[19]

In 1998, several Hispanic organizations organized a petition drive in New York State, generating hundreds of signatures from New Yorkers to try to convince New York Republican Senator Al D'Amato to push the Senate leadership to bring Sotomayor's nomination to a vote. [20] Her nomination had been pending for over a year when Majority Leader Trent Lott scheduled the vote. Many Republicans, including then-Judiciary Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch and six other Republicans who are still in the Senate today, voted for Sotomayor's confirmation to the Second Circuit.[17] With solid Democratic support, and support from about half of Republicans, Sotomayor was easily confirmed on October 2, 1998 in a 67-29 vote[21], and she received her commission on October 7.

Awards and honors

Sotomayor has received honorary degrees from Lehman College, Princeton University, Brooklyn Law School, Pace University School of Law, Hofstra University,[22] and Northeastern University.[23] She was elected a member of the American Philosophical Society in 2002.[23]

Other activities

While in private practice, Sotomayor was appointed in 1988 as one of the founding members of the New York City Campaign Finance Board, where she served for four years.[24] She has also been a member of the Board of Directors of the State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA), the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, and the foundation then known as the Maternity Center Association (now called Childbirth Connection).[25]

She was an Adjunct Professor at New York University School of Law from 1998 - 2007 and has been a lecturer-in-law at Columbia Law School since 1999.[25] She is a member of the Board of Trustees of Princeton University. She is a longtime fan of the New York Yankees.[15]

Possible nomination to the Supreme Court

Sotomayor has been regarded as a potential Supreme Court nominee by several Presidents, both Republican and Democratic.[6][26] She could enjoy bipartisan support.[9][27][28]

In July 2005, a number of Senate Democrats suggested Sotomayor, among others, to President George W. Bush as a nominee acceptable to them to fill the seat of retiring Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. The suggestion was criticized by John Lott and Sonia D. Jones on the conservative blog National Review Online as being in bad faith, because, they argued, it reflected insufficient effort on the part of the Democrats to suggest conservative nominees acceptable to Bush. Lott and Jones noted that Sotomayor was rated only "moderate" or "neutral," rather than "conservative," in a survey by the Almanac of the Federal Judiciary of courtroom lawyers regarding the political views of the judges they encounter in their litigation.[29] John G. Roberts was nominated for the seat initially, but instead was nominated and later confirmed as Chief Justice following the death of William H. Rehnquist. The seat was eventually filled by Judge Samuel A. Alito, Jr. of the Third Circuit.

There has been speculation that Sotomayor could be a leading candidate for the Supreme Court seat of Justice David Souter, or for any opening on the Court during President Obama's term.[6][7][8][26][27][28][30][31][32] On April 9, 2009, New York Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand wrote a joint letter to President Obama urging him to appoint Sotomayor, or alternatively Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, to the Supreme Court if a vacancy should arise on the Court during his term.[33] On April 30, 2009 David Souter's retirement plans were leaked to the media, and Sonia Sotomayor received early attention as a possible nominee for the seat to be vacated in June 2009.[32]

On May 13, 2009, the Associated Press reported that President Obama was considering Sotomayor, among others, for possible appointment to the United States Supreme Court.[34]

If chosen, Sotomayor would be the Supreme Court's first ever Hispanic justice.[33][35][36][37]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Sonia Sotomayor (ABA Profile, National Hispanic Heritage Month 2000)".
  2. ^ a b c d McKinley, James C. (1995-04-01). "Woman in the News; Strike-Zone Arbitrator — Sonia Sotomayor". New York Times. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  3. ^ a b c d Hoffman, Jan (1992-09-25). "A Breakthrough Judge: What She Always Wanted". New York Times. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  4. ^ Shapiro, Michael (2009-05-05). "Sonia Sotomayor '76 is very smart". The Daily Princetonian. Retrieved 2009-05-06. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  5. ^ a b c d e Carter, Terry (November 2008). "The Lawyers Who May Run America". ABA Journal. Retrieved 2009-01-17. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ a b c Adams, Edward A. (2009-04-30). "Who Will Replace Justice Souter?". ABA Journal. Retrieved 2009-05-01. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  7. ^ a b c Shepard, Scott (2008-11-24). "Speculation Already Under Way on Possible Obama Supreme Court Nominations". Cox News Service. Retrieved 2009-01-17. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  8. ^ a b c Biskupic, Joan (2005-07-19). "The next president could tip high court". USA Today.
  9. ^ a b McKinley, James (1995-04-02). "Tough on the Bench: Judge who issued injunction against owners gets high marks by peers". Dallas Morning News.
  10. ^ a b c "Times Topics: Sonia Sotomayor". New York Times. Retrieved 2009-05-01.
  11. ^ King, Wayne (1991-03-02). "Hispanic Nominee for U.S. Bench". New York Times. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  12. ^ Rutkus, Dennis (2008-03-06), "CRS Report for Congress: Role of Home State Senators in the Selection of Lower Federal Court Judges" (PDF), USA Today, p. 14
  13. ^ Whelan, Ed. "Shorter Bench". "National Review Online blog".
  14. ^ a b Smith, Greg B. (1998-10-24). "Judge's Journey to Top: Bronx' Sotomayor Rose From Projects to Court of Appeals". New York Daily News. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  15. ^ "100 Most Influential Hispanics" (PDF). Hispanic Business. 2005. p. 74. {{cite magazine}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  16. ^ a b Lewis, Neil A. (1998-10-03). "After Delay, Senate Approves Judge for Court in New York". New York Times. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  17. ^ Lewis, Neil A. (1998-06-13). "G.O.P., Its Eyes On High Court, Blocks a Judge". New York Times. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  18. ^ "Delays in Senate Action on Judicial Nominations". 1998-06-18.
  19. ^ Bell, Lauren Cohen (2002). Warring factions: interest groups, money, and the new politics of Senate confirmation. Columbus: Ohio State University Press. p. 81. ISBN 0-8142-0891-6. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  20. ^ "U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 105th Congress - 2nd Session".
  21. ^ "Outstanding Latino Professional Award Recipient, 2006, Judge Sotomayor".
  22. ^ a b http://members.amphilsoc.org/webLinksPublic.php?MemberId=4489
  23. ^ http://www.nyccfb.info/press/info/board_members.htm?sm=press_04
  24. ^ a b http://www.ca2.uscourts.gov/judgesbio.htm
  25. ^ a b Weiner, Rachel Jr. (2009-05-01). "Sonia Sotomayor: Supreme Court Nominee? All You Need To Know". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2009-05-01. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  26. ^ a b James Oliphant, Five possible nominees for Obama, Chicago Tribune (November 3, 2008).
  27. ^ a b Jouvenal, Justin (2009-05-03). "Ten Picks for Obama's Supreme Court". Salon.com. Retrieved 2009-05-03. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  28. ^ Lott, John R., Jr. (2004-09-29). "Unserious Suggestions: Silly Democratic consultations". National Review Online. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  29. ^ "Obama court pick could be Granholm". Washington Post. 2008-10-07. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  30. ^ "Sonia Sotomayor: Obama's Supreme Court Replacement for Ginsburg?". Esquire. 2009-02-06. Retrieved 2009-05-01. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  31. ^ a b Stein, Sam (2009-05-01). "Inside Obama's Court Deliberations: Sotomayor Most Mentioned". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2009-05-02. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  32. ^ a b Schumer, Charles (2009-04-09). "Schumer, Gillibrand make direct appeal to President Obama recommending he nominate the first ever Latino to the Supreme Court should a vacancy occur during his term". Press Release of Senator Charles Schumer. Retrieved 2009-05-01. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  33. ^ "AP source: Obama has more than 6 people for court". Retrieved 2009-05-13.
  34. ^ "US Supreme Court set to have first Latina justice". The Telegraph. 2009-05-02. Retrieved 2009-05-03.
  35. ^ "Bronx judge Sonia Sotomayor would be first Latina on Supreme Court if she replaces Justice Souter". The Daily News. 2009-05-01. Retrieved 2009-05-03.
  36. ^ "Supreme Court Justice David Souter plans to retire". Politico. 2009-04-30. Retrieved 2009-05-03.

[1] http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/15/us/15judge.html?nl=pol&emc=pola1

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