Sonia Maria Sotomayor
- Born:
- June 25, 1954, Bronx, New York, USA
- Died:
- N/A
- Nationality:
- American
- Profession(s):
- Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, Judge, Lawyer
Early Life and Education
- Born to Puerto Rican parents in the Bronx, New York City.
- Raised in a housing project.
- Valedictorian of Cardinal Spellman High School.
- Graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University in 1976.
- Received a J.D. from Yale Law School in 1979.
Career and Major Achievements
- Worked as an Assistant District Attorney in New York County from 1979 to 1984.
- Entered private practice in 1984.
- Nominated to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York by President George H.W. Bush in 1991.
- Served as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit from 1998 to 2009.
- Nominated to the Supreme Court of the United States by President Barack Obama in 2009.
- Confirmed as an Associate Justice on August 6, 2009, becoming the first Hispanic and third woman to serve on the Court.
Notable Works
- My Beloved World (2013) - A memoir detailing her early life and career. Many discussions of Sonia Sotomayor autobiography reviews focus on the accessibility and inspirational qualities of this work.
- United States v. Jones (2012) - Joined the unanimous opinion, concurring to emphasize privacy concerns regarding GPS tracking.
- Schuette v. Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action (2014) - Dissented, arguing against a Michigan constitutional amendment banning affirmative action in state universities.
- Ricci v. DeStefano (2009) - Prior to her Supreme Court appointment, she ruled in favor of the City of New Haven in this case, which was later reversed by the Supreme Court.
Legacy and Impact
Sonia Sotomayor's appointment to the Supreme Court marked a significant moment in American history. She is known for her advocacy for the rights of marginalized communities and her pragmatic approach to legal issues. Her writings and judicial decisions have had a lasting impact on American jurisprudence. Sotomayor serves as an inspiration to many, particularly young people of color, demonstrating that success is attainable regardless of one's background.