Sonia Sotomayor

Sonia Sotomayor is an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Appointed by President Barack Obama in 2009, she is the first Latina and third woman to serve on the nation's highest court. Prior to her elevation, she served as a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Early life and education

Sonia Sotomayor was born in The Bronx to parents from Puerto Rico. She was raised in the Bronxdale Houses, a New York City Housing Authority project, after her father's death when she was nine. A dedicated student, she graduated as valedictorian from Cardinal Spellman High School. She then attended Princeton University, where she graduated *summa cum laude* and won the Pyne Prize, the university's highest undergraduate honor. She earned her Juris Doctor from Yale Law School, where she was an editor of the Yale Law Journal.

Legal career

After law school, Sotomayor served as an assistant district attorney under Robert M. Morgenthau in the New York County District Attorney's Office. She then entered private practice at the New York law firm Pavia & Harcourt, specializing in intellectual property and international law. In 1992, President George H. W. Bush nominated her to the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, making her the youngest judge in the district and its first Hispanic federal judge. Notable cases from her tenure include helping to end the 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike with a ruling against team owners.

Supreme Court tenure

In May 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Sotomayor to the Supreme Court to replace retiring Justice David Souter. Her confirmation hearings before the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary were notable for discussions of her "wise Latina" remark. She was confirmed by the Senate in a 68–31 vote and was sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts in August 2009. On the Court, she has often aligned with the liberal bloc alongside Justices Elena Kagan and the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Jurisprudence and views

Sotomayor is generally considered part of the Court's liberal wing, with a jurisprudence emphasizing practical consequences, empathy, and a broad view of constitutional protections. She has authored significant dissents in cases involving affirmative action, voting rights, and criminal procedure. In *Utah v. Strieff*, she wrote a powerful dissent on Fourth Amendment protections. In *Schuette v. Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action*, she dissented in defense of race-conscious admissions policies. Her opinions frequently cite concerns for disparate impact on minority communities and advocate for a robust interpretation of the Equal Protection Clause.

Personal life and legacy

Sotomayor was married to Kevin Noonan from 1976 until their divorce in 1983. She has been open about managing type 1 diabetes since childhood. She is the author of a bestselling memoir, *My Beloved World*. Her historic appointment has made her an iconic figure, particularly within the Latino community, and she is a frequent speaker at institutions like the Hispanic National Bar Association. She has received numerous honors, including the Hispanic Heritage Award and an honorary doctorate from Princeton University.

Category:Associate justices of the Supreme Court of the United States Category:Yale Law School alumni Category:American women judges