First Latina to be nominated for Supreme Court Justice

Today marks a historic day for Latinos in this country. President Barack Obama has nominated Judge Sonia Sotomayor to serve as the Supreme Court Justice, if confirmed, she will be filling the vacancy left by retiring Justice David Souter. Judge Sotomayor would be the first Latina Supreme Court Justice and the third female to serve in the position.

Sonia Sotomayor comes from a humble background and has never forgotten where she came from. Her family originally from Puerto Rico, settled in the Bronx, New York during World War II. She grew up in the Housing Projects of the Bronx raised by her single mother after her father died while she was nine years old. Of her mother, Sotomayor has said that “she will never be half of the woman that her mother was”. Her mother worked 6 days a week in order to be able to send her children to Catholic school, Sotomayor gives her mother all the credit for where she is in life. Sotomayor attended Princeton University where she graduated Summa Cum Laude and Yale Law School. She has attained an exquisite education and has devoted her life to public service. She has worked in the District Attorney’s office in NY, and in 1991 was appointed by President George Bush Sr., to the Federal District Court and President Bill Clinton appointed her to the appeals court.

President Obama has said that Sotomayor is an “inspiring woman who I am sure will make a great justice”. Obama has said that he made his choice after deep and careful deliberation. He choose to nominate Sotomayor not only because of her personal story and experience but because he feels that she is someone who will be able to understand “how the world works, and how ordinary people live”. With her background, if confirmed ,Judge Sonia Sotomayor would add her countless years of experience to the bench, as well as diversity. If confirmed, many expect her to be a liberal voter on many issues.

Her nomination may draw criticism from many Republicans and conservatives. The critics of her nomination will point to many statements that she had made, and will point to the her nature as an activist judge. Opponents will argue that Sotomayor would favor disadvantaged groups. Some are saying that the GOP would be further damaged if they decide to stand up against the nomination of Sotomayor because it would hurt their image in front of a growing voting bloc of Latinos in this country. President Obama has said that he hopes to have Sotomayor to be confirmed before the Justices begin their new term in October.