Sonia Sotomayor Supreme Court nomination

Sotomayor and Obama

The Sonia Sotomayor Supreme Court nomination took place on May 26, 2009, when President Barack Obama nominated Judge Sonia Sotomayor for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, to replace retiring Justice David Souter. Sotomayor is a sitting judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, to which she had been appointed by Bill Clinton, and had previously served on the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, to which she was appointed by George H.W. Bush.

Speculation regarding the nomination of Sotomayor

Prior to her reported selection as President Obama's nominee, Sotomayor had been appointed as a judge by both Republican and Democratic presidents. 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 seat was eventually filled by Judge Samuel A. Alito, Jr. of the Third Circuit.

Since Barack Obama's election, there had 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 Obama's term. 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. 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. 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. On May 26, 2009, Obama nominated Sotomayor to the court. If confirmed, this would make her the Supreme Court's first Hispanic American justice.

Reaction to nomination

New York Governor David Paterson applauded President Obama for the decision by saying, “Throughout her impressive life and career, Judge Sonia Sotomayor has demonstrated the integrity, leadership and intellect that make her an outstanding nominee to our nation’s highest court. I congratulate President Obama for his selection of Judge Sotomayor, a native New Yorker whose legal mind will undoubtedly benefit our entire judicial system."

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele suggested that Republicans will reserve judgment on Sotomayor "until there has been a thorough and thoughtful examination of her legal views."

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney issued a statement saying, "The nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court is troubling. Her public statements make it clear she has an expansive view of the role of the judiciary.

Al Sharpton called the nomination "prudent, groundbreaking and the right choice at this time in our nation's history as we face serious constitutional and legal questions that will impact the lives of Americans for decades to come."

National Organization for Women President Kim Gandy said "President Obama said he wanted a justice with 'towering intellect' and a 'common touch' and he found both in Judge Sotomayor."

Former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said that the nomination "is a powerful message, a powerful message of hope and opportunity of hope through this appointment". With respect to Sotomayor, Gonzales said, "I have no questions in my mind about her qualifications in terms of education, experience. A president is not required to nominate the most qualified person to the court. I think he's obligated to nominate someone who is well qualified, and I think by any measure she is well qualified. I think there are legitimate questions about her judicial philosophy, and again, that will be something that will be examined in the confirmation process".

Ilya Shapiro of the Cato Institute said, "Judge Sotomayor is not one of the leading lights of the federal judiciary and would not even have been on the shortlist if she were not Hispanic."

Pat Robertson, the founder of the Christian Coalition, said “The Republicans have got to take a stand on this one, If they don’t, they can kiss their chances of ever getting back into power away.”

Randall Terry, founder of the pro-life group Operation Rescue, urged Republicans to block a Senate vote on Sotomayor saying, “Do GOP leaders have the courage and integrity to filibuster an activist, pro-Roe judge?”

Senate response

In the United States Senate, which must confirm the nomination, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said "Senate Republicans will treat Judge Sotomayor fairly, but we will thoroughly examine her record to ensure she understands that the role of a jurist in our democracy is to apply the law even-handedly, despite their own feelings or personal or political preferences."

Democratic Senator from Massachusetts, Ted Kennedy, said, "I strongly support President Obama's historic nomination. Judge Sotomayor's remarkable life story is an inspiring example of the American dream, and she has a highly distinguished legal background. She'll bring intelligence, insight, and experience to the vital work of protecting the fundamental rights and liberties of all Americans. She is eminently qualified for the Supreme Court, and I look forward to her prompt confirmation by the Senate."

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Democrat Patrick Leahy said he expected Sotomayor to be in the "mold of Justice Souter, who understands the real-world impact of the Court's decisions, rather than the mold of conservative activists who second-guess Congress."

Senate Judiciary Committee member, Republican Orrin Hatch, said he "will focus on determining whether Judge Sotomayor is committed to deciding cases based only on the law as made by the people and their elected representatives, not on personal feelings or politics. I look forward to a fair and thorough process."

Democratic Senator Arlen Specter said, "Her confirmation would add needed diversity in two ways: the first Hispanic and the third woman to serve on the high court."

Democratic Senator Russ Feingold said that "from all accounts, she is a highly qualified and very experienced judge."

Republican Senator John Cornyn said Sotomayor must "prove her commitment to impartially deciding cases based on the law, rather than based on her own personal politics, feelings, and preferences."

Republican Senator Olympia Snowe said of the nomination, "I commend President Obama for nominating a well-qualified woman, as I urged him to do during a one-on-one meeting on a variety of issues in the Oval Office earlier this month".

Hearings

No hearings have been set by the United States Senate as yet. President Obama has set a deadline for confirmation at the beginning of the recess on August 7, 2009.

External links

• Obama nominates Sonia Sotomayor to US Supreme Court at Wikinews