SCJ to be announced at 10:15AM est. (MSNBC May 26, 2009)

[PCFS1]

4 women on top of the list....stay tuned. It just was reported that Obama's pick is....Judge Sonia Sotomayor

[Brooke]

The White House needs to do a better job of keeping the lid on these things. :laughing:

I don't know anything about this pick other than she's a hispanic female.

[Jobu86]

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/05/26/sotomayor.bio/index.html#cnnSTCText

Judge Sonia Sotomayor is touted by supporters as a justice with bipartisan favor and historic appeal.

The 54-year-old judge is of Puerto Rican descent. If confirmed, she would become the first Hispanic to serve on the high court. She would also be the third female named to the Supreme Court, and the second on the current court.

Sotomayor is a judge on the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. She was named a district judge by President George H.W. Bush in 1992 and was elevated to her current seat by President Bill Clinton.

Supporters say that appointment history, along with what they describe as her moderate-liberal views, will give her some bipartisan backing in the Senate. They also point to her compelling story and personal appeal. The liberal-leaning justice rose from humble beginnings at a housing project in the South Bronx and went on to attend Princeton University and Yale Law School.

Robyn Kar, who clerked for Sotomayor from 1998 to 1999, described her as a "warm, extraordinarily kind and caring person."

"She has an amazing story, but she's also just an amazing person," he said, adding that she has a knack for getting to know those around her. "She was the judge who, in the courthouse for example, knew all of the doormen, knew the cafeteria workers, who knew the janitors -- she didn't just know all of the other judges and the politicians. She really went out of her way to get to know everyone and was well loved by everyone."

Conservatives argue Sotomayor has a "hard-left record" and believes that judges should consider experiences of women and minorities in their decision-making. They also described her as a "bully" who "abuses lawyers."

Asked about allegations that she tends to be prickly with her colleagues, Kar said, "I would say no to that. What I would say is that she has a reputation for being prickly on the bench, which is a bit different."

Kar said if attorneys have with a weak argument, "she's very quick ... and intellectually demanding."

"They'll have a hard time if they show up in her court without really doing their homework," he said.

Sotomayor was confirmed by the Senate to her current seat in 1998, a process that took more than a year.

[Spang]

Karl Rove is a douchebag

[Suzan]

Did I miss where Rove got out of line on this video? People may not agree with him, but he's just arguing his points.

I also know little about Sotomayer, except what's posted here. For me, she sounds like a good choice. I particularly like the quote about her bullying lawyers, lol.

[Jobu86]

Did I miss where Rove got out of line on this video? People may not agree with him, but he's just arguing his points.

I also know little about Sotomayer, except what's posted here. For me, she sounds like a good choice. I particularly like the quote about her bullying lawyers, lol.

Agreed, while I do think Rove is a douchebag, I don't think anything in that video shows it :p

[The_Basseteer]

If approved, Sotomayor will be the sixth catholic on the Supreme Court. Don't you think that there are already too many Roman Catholics on the Supreme court espousing their ideology?

[Spang]

Did I miss where Rove got out of line on this video? People may not agree with him, but he's just arguing his points.

Agreed, while I do think Rove is a douchebag, I don't think anything in that video shows it :p

Force of habit.

[Spang]

Huck comes out firing — at 'Maria' Sotomayor

Mike Huckabee comes out hard against the Sonia Sotomayor appointment, with a bit of a misfire as concerns her name:

The appointment of Maria Sotomayor for the Supreme Court is the clearest indication yet that President Obama's campaign promises to be a centrist and think in a bipartisan way were mere rhetoric. Sotomayor comes from the far left and will likely leave us with something akin to the "Extreme Court" that could mark a major shift. The notion that appellate court decisions are to be interpreted by the "feelings" of the judge is a direct affront of the basic premise of our judicial system that is supposed to apply the law without personal emotion. If she is confirmed, then we need to take the blindfold off Lady Justice.—

(The error was promptly corrected.)

The Source (http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0509/Huck_comes_out_firing__at_Maria_Sotomayor.html?sho wall)

[Suzan]

If approved, Sotomayor will be the sixth catholic on the Supreme Court. Don't you think that there are already too many Roman Catholics on the Supreme court espousing their ideology?
Actually, I might be concerned about one religion dominating the court appointees, but it really depends on whether or not Sotomayor espouses the same ideology as the other Catholics. I don't know where she stands yet.

Who are the Catholics and how do they line up on these issues?

[Brooke]

I just found out she was crucial in ending the 1994 MLB strike. That in itself gets props from me. :thumbsup:

[NativeSun]

If approved, Sotomayor will be the sixth catholic on the Supreme Court. Don't you think that there are already too many Roman Catholics on the Supreme court espousing their ideology?

It's going to be hard to nominate a Latino who isn't a catholic. And as a Latino whose catholic, I don't have a problem with that. I do have a problem with that catholic family from Massachusettes that thinks that the Congress is part of their inheritence, but i don't think that their catholicism factors into that. As for the nominee, I don't know enough about her past decisions to form an opinion yet. But when I heard a Puerto Rican female from the Bronx, I thought why is Obama nominating J-Lo?:thinking:

[Brooke]

I do have a problem with that catholic family from Massachusettes that thinks that the Congress is part of their inheritence

ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And which family could THAT be? :laughing: Does their name begin with K and end with Y?

[Ikasu]

I love this pick. **==

[Ikasu]

She's a brilliant pick. No one can say she isn't qualified:


Age 54 (Born June 25, 1954)

Judicial Career
- U.S. Appeals Court judge, 2nd Circuit, 1998-present
- U.S. District Court judge, 1992-1998
- Nominated to federal bench by Bush in 1991, Clinton in 1997

Government/Legal Career
- Former N.Y. County Assistant District Attorney, 1979-1984
- Former private practice attorney, Pavia & Harcourt, New York, 1984-1992

Politics
- Confirmed by Senate 67-29 in 1998
- Confirmation to current seat took over 1 year
- Was opposed by majority of Republican senators
- Was unopposed in 1991 confirmation process

Historic Milestones If Nominated
- Would be 1st Hispanic Supreme Court Justice
- Would be 3rd female Supreme Court Justice (2nd on current Court)

Education
- J.D., Yale Law School, 1979
- B.A., Princeton, 1976 (summa cum laude)

Academic Positions
- Adjunct Professor, New York University School of Law since 1998
- Lecturer-in-law, Columbia Law School since 1999

Professional Associations
- American Bar Association
- Puerto Rican Bar Association
- Hispanic National Bar Association
- Association of Judges of Hispanic Heritage
- New York Women's Bar Association

Judicial Committees & Activities
Former Member, Second Circuit Task Force on Gender, Racial and Ethnic Fairness
in the Courts

Other Activities
- Former Member, Board of Directors, New York City Campaign Finance Board
- Former Member, Board of Directors, State of New York Mortgage Agency
- Former Member, Board of Directors, Puerto Rican Legal Defense & Education
Fund
- Former Member, Board of Directors, Maternity Center Association
- Former Member, New York City Campaign Public Finance Board (Mayor's
Appointee)
- Former Member, Board of Directors, State of New York Mortgage Agency
(Governor's Appointee)

Honors & Awards
- Herbert L. Lehman College, Degree of Law Honoris Causa, 1999
- Brooklyn Law School Degree of Juris Doctor Honoris Causa, 2001
- Princeton Univ., Degree of Juris Doctor Honoris Causa, 2001

Publications
- Statehood and the Equal Footing Doctrine: The Case for Puerto Rican Seabed
Rights, 88 Yale Law Journal 825 (1979)
- Sonia Sotomayor & Nicole A. Gordon, Returning Majesty to the Law and
Politics: A Modern Approach, 30 Suffolk U.L. Rev. 35 (1996)

[smiledr]

I love this pick. **==

why?

[Ikasu]

why?

Look at her abridged resume which I posted above. She's brilliant, experienced, and would add an important voice to the Supreme Court. I didn't think Obama was going to pick her, but I am pleasantly surprised. Great pick Obama!

[Spang]

Sonia Sotomayor: 10 Things You Should Know

1. HER UPBRINGING: Judge Sonia Sotomayor has arguably lived the American dream. She was born to a Puerto Rican family and grew up in a public housing project in the South Bronx.

Her father was a factory worker with a third-grade education, and died when Sotomayor was nine years old. Her mother raised Sotomayor while working as a nurse. After her father's death, Sotomayor reportedly turned to books for solace, and she says it was her love of Nancy Drew books that ultimately led her to the law.

2. HER EDUCATION: Sotomayor graduated as valedictorian of her class at Blessed Sacrament and at Cardinal Spellman High School in New York. She won a scholarship to Princeton where she continued to excel, graduating summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. She was a co-recipient of the M. Taylor Pyne Prize, the highest honor Princeton awards to an undergraduate. At Yale Law School, Judge Sotomayor served as an editor of the Yale Law Journal and as managing editor of the Yale Studies in World Public Order.

3. HER WORK OFF THE BENCH: After law school, Sotomayor spent five years as Assistant District Attorney in Manhattan, trying dozens of criminal cases. Robert Morgenthau, who chose her for the position, described her as a "fearless and effective prosecutor." She entered private practice in 1984, working as an international corporate litigator handling cases involving everything from intellectual property to banking, real estate and contract law.

4. HER JUDICIAL EXPERIENCE: As Tom Goldstein of SCOTUSBlog writes, "Almost all of her career has been in public service -- as a prosecutor, trial judge, and now appellate judge. She has almost no money to her name." The White House notes:

If confirmed for the Supreme Court, Judge Sotomayor would bring more federal judicial experience to the Supreme Court than any justice in 100 years, and more overall judicial experience than anyone confirmed for the Court in the past 70 years. ...


In 1998, Judge Sotomayor became the first Latina to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, one of the most demanding circuits in the country. She has participated in over 3000 panel decisions and authored roughly 400 opinions, handling difficult issues of constitutional law, to complex procedural matters, to lawsuits involving complicated business organizations."

(The New York Times has summarized her most notable court opinions and articles.)

5. HER STRUGGLE WITH DIABETES: Sotomayor is a Type One diabetic. She has been open about her diabetes in the past, noting that when she was diagnosed at he age of eight, it foiled her hopes of becoming an investigative detective like her heroine, Nancy Drew. While hardly a debilitating disease -- indeed, recent medical advancements have made it quite manageable to live with -- there remain enough late-in-life health implications to have sparked debate in legal, political and medical circles over whether it should be a factor in her nomination.

6. SOTOMAYOR SUPPORTED BY REPUBLICANS: In 1992, Republican President George H. W. Bush appointed Sotomayor to the District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Later, in 1998, President Bill Clinton nominated her to the 2nd Circuit, and she was confirmed with bipartisan support in a 67-29 vote.

All Democrats voted in favor of Sotomayor (although three did not vote), while Republicans opposed her by a 29-25 majority. Among those Senators who are still in the chamber today, however, Sotomayor's margin of confirmation was a bit more comfortable: 35-11.

Indeed, five current Republican Senators voted in favor of her nomination then: Sens. Collins, Gregg, Hatch, Lugar, Snowe. Among the no votes were current Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, current Minority Whip John Kyl and Sen. Jeff Sessions, currently the ranking Republican on the Judiciary Committee.

Additionally, the White House points out, "Known as a moderate on the court, Sotomayor often forges consensus and agreeing with her more conservative nominees far more frequently than she disagrees with them. In cases where Sotomayor and at least one judge appointed by a Republican president were on the three-judge panel, Sotomayor and the Republican appointee(s) agreed on the outcome 95% of the time."

7. SOTOMAYOR ON ABORTION, GAY MARRIAGE: Sotomayor's record on two key hot button cultural issues is thin. But, quite notably, her sole opinion regarding abortion was in line with the anti-abortion movement's position. Some details from the anti-abortion site LifeNews.com:

"Despite 17 years on the bench, Judge Sotomayor has never directly decided whether a law regulating abortion was constitutional," the pro-life group Americans United for Life noted in a recent analysis of potential Supreme Court candidates.


Sotomayor participated in a decision concerning the Mexico City Policy, which President Obama recently overturned and which prohibits sending taxpayer dollars to groups that promote and perform abortions in other nations.

Writing for the Second Circuit, Judge Sotomayor upheld the Mexico City Policy, but AUL says the significance of the decision "may be minimal because the issue was largely controlled by the Second Circuit's earlier opinion in a similar challenge to the policy."

AUL notes that Judge Sotomayor also upheld the pro-life policy by rejecting claims from a pro-abortion legal group that it violated the Equal Protection Clause.

That said, pro-choice groups hailed her nomination, with Planned Parenthood declaring that she "understands the importance of ensuring that our Supreme Court justices respect precedent while also protecting our civil liberties."

Sotomayor has also not ruled on any cases involving gay civil rights, but gay legal activists described her positively:

Long-time gay legal activist Paula Ettelbrick said she met Sotomayor in about 1991 when they both served on then-New York Governor Mario Cuomo's advisory committee on fighting bias.


"Nobody wanted to talk to the queer person at that time," said Ettelbrick, who represented Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund. "She was the only one [on the advisory committee] who made a point to come over and introduce herself. She was totally interested [in gay civil rights issues] and supportive."

"From everything I know, Judge Sotomayor is an outstanding choice - fair and aware, open and judicious," said Evan Wolfson, head of the national Freedom to Marry organization. "I believe she has the demonstrated commitment to principles of equal protection and inclusion that defines a good nominee to the Supreme Court. In choosing Judge Sotomayor, the first Latino candidate for the Supreme Court, President Obama has made a strong and appealing nomination that should and will receive the supportof those committed to equality for lesbians and gay men."

8. SOTOMAYOR WOULD BE FIRST HISPANIC JUSTICE: If confirmed, Sotomayor would be the first Hispanic to ever serve on the Supreme Court. Tom Goldstein notes:

To Hispanics, the nomination would be an absolutely historic landmark. It really is impossible to overstate its significance. The achievement of a lifetime appointment at the absolute highest levels of the government is a profound event for that community, which in turn is a vital electoral group now and in the future.

9. SOTOMAYOR "SAVED BASEBALL": "During a brief period in 1995," the New York Times reported, "Judge Sonia Sotomayor became revered, at least in those cities with major league baseball teams. She ended a long baseball strike that year, briskly ruling against the owners in favor of the players." A bit more:

The owners were trying to subvert the labor system, she said, and the strike had "placed the entire concept of collective bargaining on trial."


After play resumed, The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote that by saving the season, Judge Sotomayor joined forever the ranks of Joe DiMaggio, Willie Mays, Jackie Robinson and Ted Williams. The Chicago Sun-Times said she "delivered a wicked fastball" to baseball owners and emerged as one of the most inspiring figures in the history of the sport.

10. SOTOMAYOR ON THE CONSTITUTION AND "JUDICIAL ACTIVISM": The ubiquitous conservative attack on Sotomayor stems from a 2005 statement she made describing the role appellate justices have in forming policy, which they claim is akin to an endorsement of "judicial activism."

"All of the legal defense funds out there, they are looking for people with court of appeals experience because the court of appeals is where policy is made," she said, laughing a bit through the next part: "And I know this is on tape and I should never say that because we don't make law. I know. Okay, I know. I'm not promoting it. I'm not advocating it. I know."

But as legal scholars have noted, Sotomayor's statement is entirely factual:

"She's not wrong," said Jeffrey Segal, a professor of law at Stony Brook University. "Of course they make policy... You can, on one hand, say Congress makes the law and the court interprets it. But on the other hand the law is not always clear. And in clarifying those laws, the courts make policy."


Eric Freedman, a law professor at Hofstra University, was equally dismissive of this emerging conservative talking point. "She was saying something which is the absolute judicial equivalent of saying the sun rises each morning. It is not a controversial proposition at all that the overwhelming quantity of law making work in the federal system is done by the court of appeals... It is thoroughly uncontroversial to anyone other than a determined demagogue."

Indeed, during her 1997 confirmation hearing, Sotomayor spoke of her judicial philosophy, saying "I don't believe we should bend the Constitution under any circumstance. It says what it says. We should do honor to it."

The Source (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/26/sonia-sotomayor-10-things_n_207724.html)

[Suzan]

Additionally, the White House points out, "Known as a moderate on the court, Sotomayor often forges consensus and agreeing with her more conservative nominees far more frequently than she disagrees with them. In cases where Sotomayor and at least one judge appointed by a Republican president were on the three-judge panel, Sotomayor and the Republican appointee(s) agreed on the outcome 95% of the time."

Good grief, she's Souter in reverse, a conservative in disguise.

[Spang]

Good grief, she's Souter in reverse, a conservative in disguise.

It came from The Huffington Post so it's probably not true. At the very least, it's not credible.

[Brooke]

I have a question, do these judges ask to be appointed? The federal level ones aren't elected and are only appointed by the President. But how does that work? Do they put their names in or does somebody recommend them?

Since I've been studying law for my paralegal certificate, I'm learning the nuts and bolts of all of this, more than I already knew previously, but I am curious.

[Laura Cereta]

Did I miss where Rove got out of line on this video? People may not agree with him, but he's just arguing his points.

I also know little about Sotomayer, except what's posted here. For me, she sounds like a good choice. I particularly like the quote about her bullying lawyers, lol.

Yeah, I missed it, too. :confused:

Do you wanna take this outside?! ;)

I need to study Sotomayor more before I give an opinion on her...

[Laura Cereta]

I have a question, do these judges ask to be appointed? The federal level ones aren't elected and are only appointed by the President. But how does that work? Do they put their names in or does somebody recommend them?

Since I've been studying law for my paralegal certificate, I'm learning the nuts and bolts of all of this, more than I already knew previously, but I am curious.

No, they don't apply or ask-- someone does it for them informally. It boils down to the same type of networking and lobbying that goes on in politics. It's very high school, actually. It's like you telling your friend to tell her friend who is friends with this guy that someone heard you may like him. (That's with appointed judges, obviously; of course elected ones run).

[Suzan]

Do you wanna take this outside?!

LOLOL! I must have been subconsciously thinking about the dh. He's a lawyer too.

Sotomayor would never bully you, Laura. Supposedly she only goes after those who aren't prepared. You are much too brilliant and well-organized for that. @};- @};- @};-

[Brooke]

No, they don't apply or ask-- someone does it for them informally. It boils down to the same type of networking and lobbying that goes on in politics. It's very high school, actually. It's like you telling your friend to tell her friend who is friends with this guy that someone heard you may like him. (That's with appointed judges, obviously; of course elected ones run).

LOL. That's kinda funny.

[Suzan]

It came from The Huffington Post so it's probably not true. At the very least, it's not credible.
Ah, the lying, stealing, thieving Huffpo. Now I'm wondering why you even posted it. :rotfl:

[Laura Cereta]

LOLOL! I must have been subconsciously thinking about the dh. He's a lawyer too.

Sotomayor would never bully you, Laura. Supposedly she only goes after those who aren't prepared. You are much too brilliant and well-organized for that. @};- @};- @};-

:D:D:D:)>-

I would be lucky to even have the chance to present a case in her courtroom. :p

[mavfin]

A left-of-center judge, rather than a far-left judge? I could live with that.

[NativeSun]

I have a question, do these judges ask to be appointed? The federal level ones aren't elected and are only appointed by the President. But how does that work? Do they put their names in or does somebody recommend them?

Since I've been studying law for my paralegal certificate, I'm learning the nuts and bolts of all of this, more than I already knew previously, but I am curious.

Usually it's a U.S. Senator from the respective state (court district) that floats the nomination request to the White House.

[Spang]

YouTube

[Spang]

Gingrich is a douchebag, too!

Gingrich Calls On Sotomayor To Withdraw Because She’s A ‘Latina Woman Racist’

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich posted on his Twitter feed today a call for Judge Sonia Sotomayor to withdraw her nomination because she is a “Latina woman racist.” As evidence of her supposed racism, Gingrich posted an out-of-context quote from a lecture that Sotomayor gave in 2001 on diversity. Gingrich wrote, “new racism is no better than old racism” and added:

http://thinkprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/gingrich.jpg

As Greg Sargent notes, Gingrich’s demand that Sotomayor withdraw was later retweeted — which is “generally taken as a sign of agreement” — by the RNC’s new media director, Todd Herman. When asked about Gingrich’s comment during today’s White House press conference, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs responded by noting that “the blog of a former lawmaker” is hardly the best source of objective information on Sotomayor:

GIBBS: I think it is probably important for any involved in this debate to be careful with the way in which they’ve decided to describe different aspects of the impending confirmation. I think we’re satisfied that when the people of America and the people of the Senate get a chance to look at more than just the blog of a former lawmaker that they’ll come to the same conclusion that the President did.

YouTube Video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a11dGAhvs8g)

Noting Gingrich’s offensive Twitter post, ABC’s Jake Tapper asked, “Will [the] ousted Speaker impact [his] former colleagues on Hill?” So far, it looks like Gingrich may not have to. Indeed, Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) said yesterday that he is worried that Sotomayor might allow “undue influence from her own personal race, gender, or political preferences” affect her rulings, while Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) said similarly that he believes that Sotomayor has shown “personal bias based on ethnicity and gender.”

The Source (http://thinkprogress.org/2009/05/27/gingrich-sotomayor-withdraw/)