WASHINGTON, Aug. 8, 2009
Sotomayor Becomes First Hispanic Justice
Oath Administered to Obama Nominee; N.Y. Judge Now Third Woman to Take Seat on Supreme Court
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Play CBS Video Video ...And Justice For All Sonia Sotomayor is sworn in as the 111th Justice, third woman and first Hispanic to sit on the United States Supreme Court. Chief Justice John Roberts administers the Judicial Oath.
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Chief Justice John Roberts adminsters the oath to Sonia Sotomayor, who becomes the first Hispanic and third female Supreme Court Justice, August 8, 2009. She was joined in the ceremony by her mother, Celina, and brother, Juan. (CBS)
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Timeline Sonia Sotomayor A look at the life and career of the newest Supreme Court justice.
Sonia Maria Sotomayor was sworn in this morning as the first Hispanic, and the third woman, to sit on the United States Supreme Court.
Chief Justice John Roberts administered the Judicial Oath in the East Conference Room of the Supreme Court.
Sotomayor, President Barack Obama's first High Court appointee, becomes the 111th Supreme Court Justice.
As a successor to liberal Justice David Souter, who has retired, she is not expected to alter the court's ideological balance.
Roberts presided at two ceremonies Saturday officially making Sotomayor a high court justice, a lifetime appointment.
In a private ceremony in the justices' conference room, Roberts administered an oath that the Constitution requires of all federal officials, to "support and defend" the Constitution.
Then, in a public ceremony, he gave Sotomayor a second oath in which she pledged to "administer justice" fairly and impartially, as prescribed by a 220-year-old federal law.
President Obama scheduled a White House reception for Sotomayor on Wednesday.
Sotomayor, 55, has been a federal judge for 17 years. Obama nominated her in May, and the Senate confirmed Sotomayor's nomination Thursday by a 68-31 vote.
Sotomayor can get to work after she takes the oaths, although the court won't hear arguments until Sept. 9, in a key campaign finance case.
The entire court will convene a day earlier, however, for a formal ceremony to welcome Sotomayor. Many presidents have been on hand to see their nominees take their seat on the Supreme Court bench for the first time. President George W. Bush attended Roberts' ceremony in October 2005.
Sotomayor is the daughter of Puerto Rican parents who was raised in a housing project in New York City's gritty South Bronx neighborhood and educated at the elite universities Princeton and Yale before going on to success in the legal profession and then the federal bench.
© MMIX, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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- This is beautiful. She is an excellent choice.
The Court is to rule if Congress passed laws that are consitutional. That is a check and balance. It is therefore a conflict of interest for Congress to tell the Court how to rule. - Reply to this comment
- Reference my above post.
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- Many are racist in America. Their fear and loathing needs outlet. Mrs. Sotomayor is an iconic figure because of her race. Those who are paranoid, self loathing, fearful. contemptuous, antisocial may rationalise their symptomology. They may decide there are good reasons for their antisocial and fear based maladjustments. The rationalization is that they believe they are truly a superior individual; An individual of a superior race, who must protect the world from inferior human beings. It is all a witches' brew of psychological counterbalance. Counterbalance for fear, contempt, self loathing, antisocialism, and deeply ingrained feelings of inferiority and insecurity. The maladjusted counterbalancing mechanism is a self perceived image of superiority.
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- There are countries leaded by Latino,
you can simply move there
Since Latina is wiser than white men,
those countries must be greater
Now change is finally here to uplift USA
... "leaded" says it all
I'd be tempted to say ESL says it all
I'd be tempted to say that i-tuna said nothing at all
Okay, we have a good first verse and a solid chorus. Somebody come up with a hook!
Copyright, 2009
Lyrics: i-tuna August 9, 2009 5:13 AM EDT, abbe91 August 9, 2009 6:36 AM EDT, Lawyers-Guns-n-Money August 9, 2009 10:38 AM EDT, woeisme1 August 9, 2009 10:45 AM EDT - Reply to this comment
- In the last two voting cycles, the republicans have had 19 members of their party resign their elected positions early. That's half the number of Senators they now have!
What is it about the republican party that even well respected members of their own political persuasion are walking away from their own party?
I wonder what enriquegonzales and the other mental midget republican misfits have to say to that. - Reply to this comment
- Poor Repigs
Even Texas is becoming a battleground state
you cant wash away the SHRUB/Delay stink... - Reply to this comment
- Another Obama "historical" moment.How many more historical moments can we take.
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- At least they aren't going on about the first black president who isn't black for a few days. Who cares if she's Hispanic? The media force us all to be racists. I wonder when the rest of the world is going to figure that out.
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- Why a Latina in the court make you so excited? There are countries leaded by Latino, you can simply move there and enjoy the wise Latino governments. Since Latina is wiser than white men, those countries must be greater, richer than USA anyways. Too bad white men has been leading USA for 200 years and make it so weak and poor, thanks to their bad judgment. Now change is finally here to uplift USA to be like some Latino countries. Thank you God.
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- by abbe91 August 9, 2009 6:36 AM EDT
... "leaded" ?
It says it all.
==========================
I'd be tempted to say ESL says it all.
- by abbe91 August 9, 2009 6:36 AM EDT
- leave it to the dumbs to elect someone so under qaulifed. i understand that you dems rule now and, and that you get to elect one of your own. i have no problem with that. you won, you should reep the rewards. but for the life of me, why not elect a scholar, an expert, or a historian, to the bench. she is sooo below par. you could have done way better. i would have loved to see someone as respected as a earl warren, or somewhere along those lines.
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- I look at all the horrible, twisted and hateful remarks that come from right-wingers and wonder why they are so anti-American? Damn you are some real animals! How completely disgusting and racist most of you are! *SHOCK*
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- I am still in shock at how racist the right-wing is? I mean it's amazing! Anyway, this a great thing! I'm glad because, she is very qualified and makes me proud to have the first Hispanic American Supreme Court Justice! I am so relieved that Obama is the President and not McCain and Palin. America is finally in God's favor. Anytime there is social change, the animals come out and cause a controversy. These right-wing mobs are embarrassing for the country and I can't get over their anti-American agenda? WOW! amazing!
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- Wow! Didn't the senior President Bush appoint her to the court that she was in prior to being selected for the Supreme Court? I guess that was a mistake since according to you all of us on the right are racist. I also think you might want to go back to the civil rights legislation and see who actually voted for it. Would not have passed if not for those same "racist" right wingers. Of course none of that matters to you. Where was the President today during this historic moment? He was on the golf course right here on Fort Belvoir. One of the most profound civil rights achievements in our history and he couldn't be bother with it. Golf was more important.
- Congratulations, Amerika. We now have an ethnocentric liberal racist on the Supreme Court. If this was the change you were hoping for, you can keep it.
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- Your comment is racist and hurtful. Ignorant as well! You are ignorant sir! This woman is not a racist!! You are a dumb ass? How do you figure she is racist? You are completely disgusting and ignorant. This is a good woman. She deserves this and worked hard to get where she is at> YOu sound jealous and stupid.
- bradkt1, "Illegal alien hang-ups" you bet Americans do, and if condone breaking the laws of this country you are just as bad. They have just confirmed a women who obviously hates whites , hispanics and others, is a racist and her decisions are a full indication of that. She believes that Americans should not have the right to bear arms and defend themselves in their own homes. Thank God she will not make any decisions on her own.
Do Americans hate Illegal Aliens? Most do not but are sick of non-citizens demanding rights they have not earned or deserve.
I do hate what they do to honest immigrants trying for a better life legally and watch as these people continue to thumb their noses at them because our government is weak and allows it to happen. - Reply to this comment
- When I was younger, it usually appeared that women were either young and cute or ignored. I am happy to see women appearing intelligent and mature, and welcome in the public eye as they advance their career.
It was a proud moment when I learned that the most popular name for a baby girl in Bosnia is "Madeline" for our former Secretary of State. I think that Justice Sotomayor will contribute to a new tradition where women contribute significantly to support and leadership in civilization.
One more reason I am proud of my president and my country. - Reply to this comment
- The President didn't have time to attend this historic moment because he had a tee time at Fort Belvoir. Who would want to attend a historic ceremony when you could be out on the links? Another example of misplaced priorities.
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- I think Sotomayor was a sound choice.
I also think those puffy eyes of hers make her look like she just came off a three-day drunk..... - Reply to this comment
- Forget about qualifications - your depth of knowledge, and how well you've done on tests.
Today, it's ok to lie, even if you're going to be on the Supreme Court.
Is she doing this job for free, or is she getting a paycheck from the tax base?
There are a lot of people more qualified than her, that deserve that job, and the money.
She's worth $7 million and is still saying that America is racist. What a _loser_.
Affirmative Action brings down the standards for the whole culture. - Reply to this comment
- Suck it up, Limboogers!
And remember, it's pronounced "So-to-mi-YOR". Get it right, cracker. - Reply to this comment
- Well, here comes the racist remarks. When are people going to wake up? There is only one race. It's called the human race. If people could understand that the world wouldn't have so many race issues.
Congrats Sotomayor and good luck. - Reply to this comment
