Justice Sonia Sotomayor United States Supreme Court
“Every accomplishment in life requires effort – you must spend time practicing and learning everything you need to do as a professional? I believe each person should try to devote his or her life to doing meaningful work with the people he or she likes. I have been blessed at each stage of my career of doing such work with colleagues I greatly admire and respect. It has given my life meaning? The highlight of my vocation was my induction as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.”
--Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States Sonia Sotomayor
It has been an amazing and challenging journey for the newest Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States - our Bronx-raised Sonia Sotomayor. She is the first Hispanic ever, and just the third woman to hold this position - nominated and supported by another first, our President, Barack Hussein Obama. President Obama, in the spirit of his campaign mantra, change, ushered her entry into history and the national foray with her nomination in May 2009 to replace the retiring Justice David Souter.
Justice Sotomayor’s nomination was approved by a vote 68-31, a resounding victory for the Democrats and the era of change. President Obama so proudly spoke about Ms. Justice Sotomayor’s remarkable journey; often times referring to her earlier years in the Bronx, to the Ivy league, where she excelled, to the highest reaches of the nation’s judicial system.
Sotomayor is truly a trailblazer and is what we call “the quintessence of an American dream and hope.” What makes it even more real and personal is that many of us have walked in the same streets where she was raised and received a similar education. This is what makes our connection to her even more astounding and special.
I had the great privilege to meet Justice Sotomayor and have lunch in her old Chambers at the Federal District Courthouse in lower Manhattan. When one walks into a room with her, you immediately feel her energy, power and warmth. She truly is so down to earth, simple yet regal, comfortable with whom she is while simultaneously putting one at ease. I sat across from her listening to her recent experiences including when she received the nomination from the President of the United States and sitting in front of a U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee that alternated between heartfelt support and admiration and striking contentiousness.
On September 8th of this year I would excitedly travel to Washington, D.C., to step into the majestic Supreme Court of the United States and witness firsthand a most wonderful event -- Justice Sotomayor’s historic swearing-in to the highest tribunal in this nation. The surprisingly small courtroom flanked by 24 marble columns was filled with individuals, including many overwhelmingly proud family and friends. As I heard the clerk of the court read from the scroll and watched Justice Sotomayor place her hand on the bible and heard her repeat the oath, I thought this had to be one of the most amazing 15 minutes in this nation’s history.
Justice Sotomayor describes her character as having “unwavering fidelity to the law respectful of professionals, colleagues, and people in general. I am loving and loyal to, and care deeply for, family and friends.” Her biggest enjoyment comes from spending time and holding discussions with them, in particular her extended family – her mother, paternal grandmother and maternal and paternal aunts and uncles- who all had a hand in her development - “raised by her village”.
Justice Sotomayor’s role model is her mother, who she often refers to as her pillar of strength throughout her life. Her friends growing up were mostly her cousins. Among those who assisted in shaping her career were Assistant Professor Peter Winn at Princeton who helped improve her writing stating that good writing is critical to being a good lawyer and judge. Her greatest pre-law challenge was improving her writing during college years which then provided the platform for her success today. One of her most influential mentors, responsible for helping to shape her legal career, Judge José Cabranes, who was the General Counsel to Yale University when Sotomayor was at Yale Law School. He personally mentored her during her years in New Haven and served as one of her pillars and strong supporters throughout her legal career.
Recently Justice Sotomayor joined the PRBA Board and its members for an historic event gathering at the City University Graduate Center. Being in the presence of legal royalty was an honor we will forever remember. Gracias Sonia por todo que tu hiciste y por todo que creiste para nosotros y el futuro del PRBA.
Justice Sotomayor earned a B.A. in 1976 from Princeton University, graduating summa cum laude. In 1979, she earned a J.D. from Yale Law School where she served as editor of the Yale Law Journal. From 1979 – 1984, she served as an Assistant District Attorney in the New York County District Attorney’s Office under District Attorney Robert Morgenthau, a mentor, supporter and counselor during her professional life. After the district attorney’s office, she litigated international commercial matters in New York City at Pavia & Harcourt, where she served as an associate and then partner from 1984-1992. In 1991, President George H.W. Bush nominated her to the U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, and she served in that role from 1992-1998. She served as a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit from 1998-2009. President Barack Obama nominated her as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court on May 26, 2009, and she assumed this role on August 8, 2009.
--Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States Sonia Sotomayor
It has been an amazing and challenging journey for the newest Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States - our Bronx-raised Sonia Sotomayor. She is the first Hispanic ever, and just the third woman to hold this position - nominated and supported by another first, our President, Barack Hussein Obama. President Obama, in the spirit of his campaign mantra, change, ushered her entry into history and the national foray with her nomination in May 2009 to replace the retiring Justice David Souter. Justice Sotomayor’s nomination was approved by a vote 68-31, a resounding victory for the Democrats and the era of change. President Obama so proudly spoke about Ms. Justice Sotomayor’s remarkable journey; often times referring to her earlier years in the Bronx, to the Ivy league, where she excelled, to the highest reaches of the nation’s judicial system.
Sotomayor is truly a trailblazer and is what we call “the quintessence of an American dream and hope.” What makes it even more real and personal is that many of us have walked in the same streets where she was raised and received a similar education. This is what makes our connection to her even more astounding and special.
I had the great privilege to meet Justice Sotomayor and have lunch in her old Chambers at the Federal District Courthouse in lower Manhattan. When one walks into a room with her, you immediately feel her energy, power and warmth. She truly is so down to earth, simple yet regal, comfortable with whom she is while simultaneously putting one at ease. I sat across from her listening to her recent experiences including when she received the nomination from the President of the United States and sitting in front of a U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee that alternated between heartfelt support and admiration and striking contentiousness.
On September 8th of this year I would excitedly travel to Washington, D.C., to step into the majestic Supreme Court of the United States and witness firsthand a most wonderful event -- Justice Sotomayor’s historic swearing-in to the highest tribunal in this nation. The surprisingly small courtroom flanked by 24 marble columns was filled with individuals, including many overwhelmingly proud family and friends. As I heard the clerk of the court read from the scroll and watched Justice Sotomayor place her hand on the bible and heard her repeat the oath, I thought this had to be one of the most amazing 15 minutes in this nation’s history.
Justice Sotomayor describes her character as having “unwavering fidelity to the law respectful of professionals, colleagues, and people in general. I am loving and loyal to, and care deeply for, family and friends.” Her biggest enjoyment comes from spending time and holding discussions with them, in particular her extended family – her mother, paternal grandmother and maternal and paternal aunts and uncles- who all had a hand in her development - “raised by her village”.
Justice Sotomayor’s role model is her mother, who she often refers to as her pillar of strength throughout her life. Her friends growing up were mostly her cousins. Among those who assisted in shaping her career were Assistant Professor Peter Winn at Princeton who helped improve her writing stating that good writing is critical to being a good lawyer and judge. Her greatest pre-law challenge was improving her writing during college years which then provided the platform for her success today. One of her most influential mentors, responsible for helping to shape her legal career, Judge José Cabranes, who was the General Counsel to Yale University when Sotomayor was at Yale Law School. He personally mentored her during her years in New Haven and served as one of her pillars and strong supporters throughout her legal career.
Recently Justice Sotomayor joined the PRBA Board and its members for an historic event gathering at the City University Graduate Center. Being in the presence of legal royalty was an honor we will forever remember. Gracias Sonia por todo que tu hiciste y por todo que creiste para nosotros y el futuro del PRBA.
Justice Sotomayor earned a B.A. in 1976 from Princeton University, graduating summa cum laude. In 1979, she earned a J.D. from Yale Law School where she served as editor of the Yale Law Journal. From 1979 – 1984, she served as an Assistant District Attorney in the New York County District Attorney’s Office under District Attorney Robert Morgenthau, a mentor, supporter and counselor during her professional life. After the district attorney’s office, she litigated international commercial matters in New York City at Pavia & Harcourt, where she served as an associate and then partner from 1984-1992. In 1991, President George H.W. Bush nominated her to the U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, and she served in that role from 1992-1998. She served as a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit from 1998-2009. President Barack Obama nominated her as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court on May 26, 2009, and she assumed this role on August 8, 2009.
The PRBA thanks its top sponsors >>
