Obama Taps Sonia Sotomayor For High Court
President Barack Obama on Tuesday nominated a Hispanic judge, Sonia Sotomayor, to the U.S. Supreme Court - a choice unlikely to shift the ideological balance on the country's highest judicial panel.
Mr. Obama's selection of the 54-year-old Sotomayor, whose parents moved to New York City from Puerto Rico before her birth, is an exercise of one of the most significant powers the U.S. Constitution grants the American chief executive.
The president said he selected Sotomayor based on his search for a candidate with a "rigorous intellect" and "a mastery of the law" and one who recognized "the limits of the judicial role."
Sotomayor said "my heart today is bursting with gratitude" and called the nomination the "most humbling honor of my life."
Before selecting the nominee, Mr. Obama had said he was looking for a prospective high court justice who would bring "empathy" to the bench, a judge capable of understanding the effects of high court rulings on the lives of Americans.
Standing next of Mr. Obama in the White House East Room, Sotomayor echoed that point: "I strive never to forget the real world consequences of my decisions." (Read the full remarks by Obama and Sotomayor.)
CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller reports that as as Sotomayor ended her remarks, Mr. Obama joined in the applause for his nominee and could be heard whispering to her: "Good Luck. You're gonna do great."
And Vice President Joe Biden whispered the following to Sotomayor after her remarks: "Told ya. Piece of cake. Piece of cake. You did wonderful."
CBS News political director Steve Chaggaris reports that Mr. Obama made his decision this past weekend, according to a senior White House official.
According to a senior administration official, Mr. Obama had not met Sotomayor until last Thursday, reports CBS News chief political consultant Marc Ambinder, but he "knew her from reputation" for a long time.
Another official told Ambinder that at the beginning of this process, Sotomayor was clearly the choice Mr. Obama wanted, "and the process, nicely enough, ended up where the president began."
If confirmed by the Senate, she would succeed retiring Justice David Souter, one of four reliably liberal votes on the nine-member court, and would be expected to vote with the liberal bloc.
There are four equally dependable conservative votes, leaving Justice Anthony Kennedy, a centrist, to cast the deciding ballot when the other members split 4-4.
Regardless, Sotomayor would inject relative youth into the court's aging liberal wing. Justices serve until they retire or die, giving presidents an opportunity to influence policy long after they leave office. Mr. Obama's nomination is the first by a Democratic president in 15 years.
She would join Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as the second woman on the current court, the third in history. Former Justice Sandra Day O'Connor was the first woman on the Supreme Court.
Mr. Obama's Democrats are just one Senate vote shy of the 60 necessary to prevent a Republican filibuster, a tactic designed to delay or defeat a proposal. But going into the confirmation process an outright Republican attempt to block Sotomayor appeared unlikely.
The Senate Republican leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, issued a statement that 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 evenhandedly, despite their own feelings or personal or political preferences."
Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter, who recently became a Democrat, applauded the nomination.
"Her confirmation would add needed diversity in two ways: the first Hispanic and the third woman to serve on the high court. "
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele also reacted quickly with the following statement.
"Republicans look forward to learning more about federal appeals court judge Sonia Sotomayor's thoughts on the importance of the Supreme Court's fidelity to the Constitution and the rule of law. Supreme Court vacancies are rare, which makes Sonia Sotomayor's nomination a perfect opportunity for America to have a thoughtful discussion about the role of the Supreme Court in our daily lives," Steele said. "Republicans will reserve judgment on Sonia Sotomayor until there has been a thorough and thoughtful examination of her legal views." (Check out more of the reaction here.)
"There will be opposition, some will try to picture her as an activist, but it's going to be very, very difficult to oppose this woman with this kind of story," CBS News chief Washington correspondent Bob Schieffer said following the announcement. "This was the political advisers dream candidate. In addition to having all of experience, which she does that President Obama cited, the story this woman has to tell, it's going to be very difficult to go against that, especially when you have a large Democratic majority in the Senate."
Any decision to filibuster could carry deep political risks - Hispanics are the fastest-growing segment of the population and an increasingly important one politically.
Still, Republicans could try to use her nomination to galvanize the party base.
Mr. Obama's announcement leaves the Senate four months - more than enough time by traditional standards - to complete confirmation proceedings before the Court begins its next term in the fall.
As a judge, Sotomayor has a bipartisan pedigree. She was first appointed to the federal bench by a Republican, President George H.W. Bush, then named an appeals judge by Democratic President Bill Clinton in 1997. (Read her biography here.)
At her Senate confirmation hearing more than a decade ago, she said, "I don't believe we should bend the Constitution under any circumstance. It says what it says. We should do honor to it."
Such statements could provide solace to conservative Republicans who often argue that liberal judges seek to legislate from the bench by imposing their own political philosophy to interpretation of the Constitution.
Abortion rights have been a flashpoint in several recent Supreme Court confirmations, although Sotomayor has not authored any controversial rulings on the subject.
There is the possibility that Mr. Obama, before his four-year term is out, may be given the opportunity for more appointments, allowing him to reshape the court that has, in recent years, moved to the right with President George W. Bush's choice of conservative Justice Samuel Alito Jr. to replace the moderate O'Connor.
© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Mr. Obama's selection of the 54-year-old Sotomayor, whose parents moved to New York City from Puerto Rico before her birth, is an exercise of one of the most significant powers the U.S. Constitution grants the American chief executive.
The president said he selected Sotomayor based on his search for a candidate with a "rigorous intellect" and "a mastery of the law" and one who recognized "the limits of the judicial role."
Sotomayor said "my heart today is bursting with gratitude" and called the nomination the "most humbling honor of my life."
Before selecting the nominee, Mr. Obama had said he was looking for a prospective high court justice who would bring "empathy" to the bench, a judge capable of understanding the effects of high court rulings on the lives of Americans.
Standing next of Mr. Obama in the White House East Room, Sotomayor echoed that point: "I strive never to forget the real world consequences of my decisions." (Read the full remarks by Obama and Sotomayor.)
CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller reports that as as Sotomayor ended her remarks, Mr. Obama joined in the applause for his nominee and could be heard whispering to her: "Good Luck. You're gonna do great."
And Vice President Joe Biden whispered the following to Sotomayor after her remarks: "Told ya. Piece of cake. Piece of cake. You did wonderful."
CBS News political director Steve Chaggaris reports that Mr. Obama made his decision this past weekend, according to a senior White House official.
According to a senior administration official, Mr. Obama had not met Sotomayor until last Thursday, reports CBS News chief political consultant Marc Ambinder, but he "knew her from reputation" for a long time.
Another official told Ambinder that at the beginning of this process, Sotomayor was clearly the choice Mr. Obama wanted, "and the process, nicely enough, ended up where the president began."
If confirmed by the Senate, she would succeed retiring Justice David Souter, one of four reliably liberal votes on the nine-member court, and would be expected to vote with the liberal bloc.
There are four equally dependable conservative votes, leaving Justice Anthony Kennedy, a centrist, to cast the deciding ballot when the other members split 4-4.
Regardless, Sotomayor would inject relative youth into the court's aging liberal wing. Justices serve until they retire or die, giving presidents an opportunity to influence policy long after they leave office. Mr. Obama's nomination is the first by a Democratic president in 15 years.
She would join Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as the second woman on the current court, the third in history. Former Justice Sandra Day O'Connor was the first woman on the Supreme Court.
Mr. Obama's Democrats are just one Senate vote shy of the 60 necessary to prevent a Republican filibuster, a tactic designed to delay or defeat a proposal. But going into the confirmation process an outright Republican attempt to block Sotomayor appeared unlikely.
The Senate Republican leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, issued a statement that 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 evenhandedly, despite their own feelings or personal or political preferences."
Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter, who recently became a Democrat, applauded the nomination.
"Her confirmation would add needed diversity in two ways: the first Hispanic and the third woman to serve on the high court. "
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele also reacted quickly with the following statement.
"Republicans look forward to learning more about federal appeals court judge Sonia Sotomayor's thoughts on the importance of the Supreme Court's fidelity to the Constitution and the rule of law. Supreme Court vacancies are rare, which makes Sonia Sotomayor's nomination a perfect opportunity for America to have a thoughtful discussion about the role of the Supreme Court in our daily lives," Steele said. "Republicans will reserve judgment on Sonia Sotomayor until there has been a thorough and thoughtful examination of her legal views." (Check out more of the reaction here.)
"There will be opposition, some will try to picture her as an activist, but it's going to be very, very difficult to oppose this woman with this kind of story," CBS News chief Washington correspondent Bob Schieffer said following the announcement. "This was the political advisers dream candidate. In addition to having all of experience, which she does that President Obama cited, the story this woman has to tell, it's going to be very difficult to go against that, especially when you have a large Democratic majority in the Senate."
Any decision to filibuster could carry deep political risks - Hispanics are the fastest-growing segment of the population and an increasingly important one politically.
Still, Republicans could try to use her nomination to galvanize the party base.
Mr. Obama's announcement leaves the Senate four months - more than enough time by traditional standards - to complete confirmation proceedings before the Court begins its next term in the fall.
As a judge, Sotomayor has a bipartisan pedigree. She was first appointed to the federal bench by a Republican, President George H.W. Bush, then named an appeals judge by Democratic President Bill Clinton in 1997. (Read her biography here.)
At her Senate confirmation hearing more than a decade ago, she said, "I don't believe we should bend the Constitution under any circumstance. It says what it says. We should do honor to it."
Such statements could provide solace to conservative Republicans who often argue that liberal judges seek to legislate from the bench by imposing their own political philosophy to interpretation of the Constitution.
Abortion rights have been a flashpoint in several recent Supreme Court confirmations, although Sotomayor has not authored any controversial rulings on the subject.
There is the possibility that Mr. Obama, before his four-year term is out, may be given the opportunity for more appointments, allowing him to reshape the court that has, in recent years, moved to the right with President George W. Bush's choice of conservative Justice Samuel Alito Jr. to replace the moderate O'Connor.
Sonia Sotomayor
Age: 54. Born June 25, 1954, New York City
Education: B.A., Princeton, 1976; J.D., Yale Law School, 1979
Career: U.S. Appeals Court Judge, Second Circuit, 1998 - present; U.S. District Court Judge, Southern District of New York, 1992 - 1998; Attorney, Pavia & Harcourt, 1984 - 1992; Prosecutor, New York County District Attorney's Office, 1979 - 1984
Highlights:
Issued injunction against major league baseball owners, March, 1995
Denied, as part of three-judge panel, New Haven firefighters' appeal, February, 2008
Read More About Her Biography
Photo Essay | Timeline
Age: 54. Born June 25, 1954, New York City
Education: B.A., Princeton, 1976; J.D., Yale Law School, 1979
Career: U.S. Appeals Court Judge, Second Circuit, 1998 - present; U.S. District Court Judge, Southern District of New York, 1992 - 1998; Attorney, Pavia & Harcourt, 1984 - 1992; Prosecutor, New York County District Attorney's Office, 1979 - 1984
Highlights:
Issued injunction against major league baseball owners, March, 1995
Denied, as part of three-judge panel, New Haven firefighters' appeal, February, 2008
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And she's perfect if your a fence jumper....
The American Bar Association shows among her many qualifications / Memberships:
New York Women?s Bar Association
Puerto Rican Bar Association,
Hispanic National Bar Association,
Association of Judges of Hispanic Heritage,
and the National Council of La Raza.
THAT"S RIGHT FOLKS, Judge Latino is an activist member of "THE R ACE"
hahahahahahahahahahahaha. Oh, that's a good one. By the way, if you want to make a point by calling someone a dummy, you might want to spell it right.
Posted by stuart2561 at 4:11 AM : May 27, 2009
Listen to Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity to get the truth dumy. All of this info. can easily be researched, you just need to listen to the truth. If you would want to know the truth you would listen to these two guys and you would not have voted for Obama. You can say whatever you want, if you think these guys are wrong, call them and debate the facts that they are giving. YOU WILL NOT AND YOU CANNOT BECAUSE YOU ARE A DUM LIBERAL WHO HIDES FROM THE TRUTH.
Posted by robo1415 at 8:28 PM : May 26, 2009
***************************
Yes, apparently, 75pct of the folks responding to the pop-up poll on this story.
Posted by robo1415 at 8:23 PM : May 26, 2009
********************************************
So enlighten us. What are the "distrubing comments" and rulings?
Gee, what a surprise: The right-wing talking points on Sotomayor are misleading distortions
By David Neiwert Tuesday May 26, 2009 2:30pm
The Republican National Committee screwed up and let slip their talking points on their inevitable opposition to the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court. The Briefing Room has them. As you can see, it's pretty tepid stuff.
Most of them were in use on Fox today. But it's clear that most of the right-wing talkers are staking their opposition on a couple of video snippets -- both of which are incomplete and taken out of context.
At least, that was the upshot of the early round of brickbats thrown Sotomayor's way on Fox this morning by the likes of Karl (Harriet Miers) Rove, Brian Kilmeade, and Megan Kelly. But it's been more than just Fox. As Media Matters notes, the distortions immediately made their way into mainstream cable news.
The most notorious one involves a snippet of a Sotomayor quote in which she seemed to say that Latina women make better judges than white men. Of course that's a grotesque mischaracterization:
Contrary to Kelly and Greenburg's claims, Sotomayor did not say or suggest that Latina or Latino judges are "better" than white male judges, but was instead talking specifically about "race and sex discrimination cases." From Sotomayor's speech delivered at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law and published in 2002 in the Berkeley La Raza Law Journal:
The other talking point that seems to have Orrin Hatch's knickers in a bunch involves a remark she made about "setting policy" at the district-judgeship level. Brian Kilmeade set that one up -- even though it had already been knocked down by Napolitano himself, who understood exactly what she was talking about. Moreover, Kilmeade (and Hatch) dishonestly but conveniently ignore the fact that Sotomayor within a few sentences of having made that remark made clear she was expressing a prevailing view -- one to which she did not subscribe herself.