May 26, 2009

The Next Top Judge?

President Barack Obama nominates Sonia Sotomayor to become the nation’s first Hispanic Supreme Court Justice

By Andrea Delbanco

On Tuesday, President Barack Obama announced that he has chosen a nominee to succeed retiring Supreme Court Justice David Souter. Obama's pick, Sonia Sotomayor, 54, could become the nation's first Hispanic Supreme Court justice. If she's chosen for the top job, she will be the third woman Justice in the history of the high court. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg currently serves on the Supreme Court. Justice Sandra Day O'Connor was the first woman on the Supreme Court. She retired in 2006.

LARRY DOWNING—REUTERS President Obama appears with Judge Sonia Sotomayor (right) and Vice President Joseph Biden at the White House on Tuesday.

Obama says that having Sotomayor on the top court would mark another step toward the goal of "equal justice under the law." He believes her background will help her to be a great Justice. "Along the way, she's faced down barriers, overcome the odds and lived out the American dream that brought her parents here so long ago," he said.

Get to Know Sotomayor

Sotomayor grew up in New York City after her parents moved there from Puerto Rico. She knew she wanted to be a judge when she was young. A graduate of Princeton University and Yale Law School, Sotomayor has been working as a judge since 1992.

She never dreamt she would one day be nominated for the nation's highest court. "My heart is bursting with gratitude," Sotomayor said Tuesday after Obama announced his choice.

How the High Court Works

The Supreme Court is our nation's top court. Its rulings on legal issues are final and cannot be appealed. It acts as a check on the powers of Congress and the President. The court is made up of one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices. Unlike the President, Supreme Court Justices do not have term limits. They may serve for life.

Justices are supposed to judge each case based only on the law, but their personal values and beliefs can influence how they interpret the law. This is why people who disagree with President Obama's views might worry about the views of his nominee. It is also why the public must learn more about who Sotomayor is.

Before she becomes a Justice, Sotomayor must go through a difficult process. During confirmation hearings, members of the Judiciary Committee will ask her about her personal beliefs and get an idea of her ability to be a fair judge. Then the entire Senate will vote. If Sotomayor is confirmed, she will take the oath of office and join the other Justices on the bench.

Obama says he hopes that Sotomayor can be confirmed in time to take her place on the Supreme Court when it starts a new term in October.

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