Supreme Court Nominations

Sotomayor’s Elevation Cuts Hispanics on US Appeals Courts by One-Third

The federal bench is largely white and male, but President Obama’s judicial appointments would help increase the diversity. Right now 13 percent of all federal judges are minorities and 18 percent are women, according to statistics published by the Washington Post. When Obama appointed Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S.…

Aug 26, 2009 11:33 AM CDT

Sotomayor Now Court’s Junior Justice—and ‘Doorkeeper and Secretary’

Sonia Sotomayor is now the second youngest justice on the U.S. Supreme Court, less than six months older than the man who swore her in on Saturday, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. She is also the third New Yorker currently on the court; the others are Justices Ruth Bader…

Aug 10, 2009 12:35 PM CDT

Now Well-Worn ‘Wise Latina’ Phrase Is Worn, Literally, By Sotomayor Fans

Used by some Republican senators as a rallying cry against the confirmation of new U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, her controversial “wise Latina” comment is now being proclaimed by proud supporters as a rallying cry for the continuing progress of women in the workplace. The now well-worn phrase is…

Aug 8, 2009 12:02 AM CDT

Big Cases on Sotomayor Docket Raise Big Question: How Will She Vote?

In the first case Sonia Sotomayor will hear as a justice, she will be asked to consider whether corporations have a First Amendment right to donate to candidates—a decision that could dramatically change U.S. elections. But Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission is just one of several big cases on…

Aug 7, 2009 1:39 PM CDT

Sotomayor to Be Sworn in Saturday—At High Court Rather than White House

Judge Sonia Sotomayor will be sworn in Saturday by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., but the event won’t take place at the White House. In a break from recent custom, Sotomayor will be sworn in at the U.S. Supreme Court, the National Law Journal reports. The location was moved…

Aug 7, 2009 12:59 PM CDT

Sotomayor is Confirmed

In a historic moment, the U.S. Senate today voted 68-31 to confirm President Barack Obama’s nomination of Sonia Sotomayor for a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court. The vote, as expected, was along party lines, with nine of the Senate’s 40 Republicans joining the Democratic majority in approving the 55-year-old…

Aug 6, 2009 7:48 PM CDT

Sotomayor Questions: NRA Influence and Partisan Divide

The Senate begins debate today on Judge Sonia Sotomayor’s nomination for the U.S. Supreme Court and could vote by the end of the week. Sotomayor is expected to win approval by a better margin than the 58-42 vote for Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., which included four Democrats, according to…

Aug 4, 2009 11:57 AM CDT

By 13-6 Vote, Judiciary Committee Sends Sotomayor to Full Senate

Casting their ballots along party lines, the Senate Judiciary Committee today voted 13-6 to endorse Sonia Sotomayor’s nomination by President Barack Obama for a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court. Her nomination will now be voted on by the full Senate, and is expected to be approved by a comfortable…

Jul 28, 2009 4:38 PM CDT

Senate Judiciary Committee to Vote Today on Sotomayor; Gun Rights an Issue

Only one Republican member of the Senate Judiciary Committee has announced that he will support Judge Sonia Sotomayor for a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court in the vote scheduled for today. Yesterday, Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., announced that he will vote against Sotomayor, saying her speeches and writings indicate…

Jul 28, 2009 12:16 PM CDT

Sotomayor’s Nomination: Today’s News

As an expected Senate Judiciary Committee vote looms tomorrow on the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor for a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court, lawmakers are still announcing their planned votes: Augusta Chronicle (opinion): “Bottom line” Blog of Legal Times: “‘Sotomayor Running Out of Potential GOP Support” Capitol Briefing (Washington Post):…

Jul 27, 2009 7:43 PM CDT

Sotomayor’s Nomination: Today’s News

Associated Press: “Ensign meets with Sotomayor” Black Chronicle: “A Sotomayor Sense of Justice “ Trail Blazers (Dallas Morning News): “Cornyn won’t vote to confirm Sotomayor to Supreme Court” The Hill: “NRSC Chairman Cornyn to oppose Sotomayor “ First Read (MSNBC): “Cornyn, Hatch: No on Sotomayor” New York Times: “N.R.A. to…

Jul 24, 2009 4:27 PM CDT

Sotomayor’s Nomination: Today’s News

Associated Press: “GOP Sen. Graham to support Sotomayor” Los Angeles Times: “Key GOP senator says he’ll vote to confirm Sotomayor” McClatchy Newspapers: “GOP’s Graham says he’ll vote for Sotomayor” Miami Herald: “Gov. Charlie Crist says he opposes Sonia Sotomayor” Caucus (New York Times): “More Senators on Sotomayor: Kyl, No. Graham,…

Jul 22, 2009 9:43 PM CDT

Sotomayor’s Nomination: Today’s News

Associated Press: “Panel delays Sotomayor vote as GOP support grows” Baltimore Sun: “Life experiences influence work for everyone—judges included” Political Intelligence (Boston Globe): “Sotomayor gets July 28 vote, Collins backing” Medill Reports: “Sotomayor a sure thing, according to Sen. Patrick Leahy” National law Journal: “Questioning Sotomayor Without a License” National…

Jul 21, 2009 11:28 PM CDT

Sotomayor Hearings Remind Women of Issues Female Attorneys Face

It’s not every day that columnist Kathleen Parker and a legal writer in the New York Times find themselves on the same page, so to speak, politically. But in their respective articles over the past few days both Parker and Times editor Jill Abramson offered a similar take on the…

Jul 20, 2009 9:54 PM CDT

Sotomayor’s Nomination: Today’s News

ABAJournal.com: “Sotomayor Hearings Remind Women of Issues Female Attorneys Face” Associated Press: “GOP, divided on Sotomayor, won’t drag out debate” CQ Politics: “Sotomayor’s Chances Looking Even Better “ Dallas Morning News: “Testimony by ABA official from Dallas counters Sotomayor’s critics” New York Daily News: “‘Stop the racial politics’ with Sonia…

Jul 20, 2009 9:50 PM CDT