Who is the first Latina Justice on the US Supreme Court?

Answer 1

Sonia Maria Sotomayor (born June 25, 1954) was President Obama's first US Supreme Court nominee, who was recently confirmed and sworn in to replace Justice David H. Souter, who retired from the US Supreme Court at the end of June 2009. She is the first Latina justice in the Supreme Court's history.

Sotomayor's judicial career began in 1992, when George H. W. Bush nominated her to the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, with the enthusiastic backing of both New York Republican and Democratic Senators.

Bill Clinton nominated Sotomayor to the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in 1997. Her nomination was held in the Senate for a year because some Republicans were afraid she was being put on a fast-track to the US Supreme Court. She was finally confirmed by a Senate vote of 67-29 (which included approval from 25 Republicans) in 1998.

On August 6, 2009, the US Senate confirmed Sotomayor's nomination by a vote of 68-31, making her the 111th US Supreme Court Justice. Although the vote was split along party lines, the unanimous Democratic endorsement was joined by nine Republicans and both Senate Independents. Sonia Sotomayor took the Constitutional and Judicial Oaths of Office on August 8, 2009. She will begin sitting with the Court during the 2009-2010 Term, which begins on the first Monday in October.

For more information on Justice Sonia Sotomayor, see Related Links, below.

Answer 2

Sonia Sotomayor is the first Hispanic-American justice on the US Supreme Court, although some people believe the correct answer is Benjamin Cardozo.

The question of Justice Benjamin Cardozo's ethnic heritage has been a matter of controversy for years.

Cardozo's family immigrated to the American colonies in the 18th century from Holland and England, where they were established as citizens. The family identified themselves mainly as Sephardic Jews whose ancestors were from the Iberian Peninsula (modern Portugal and Spain), but believed they were of Portuguese descent. Nevertheless, the family tree contains some traditional Spanish surnames, such are Gomez, Menedes and Navarro, so their true ancestry, like many people's, is probably somewhat mixed.

According to the Portuguese Consul in Boston, Cardozo is a Portuguese name. Neither the Portuguese nor the Spanish consider those with Portuguese heritage Hispanic. The U.S. Census bureau also considers the Portuguese population to be distinct from the Hispanic population. The two nations have different cultures and speak different languages.

Cardozo attended the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue, but did not belong to either Spanish- or Portuguese-national social groups. Since the term "Hispanic" was not widely used during his lifetime, Cardozo, himself, had nothing to say on the matter.

I think it is reasonable to classify Justice Sotomayor as the first Latina member of the Court because she clearly identifies herself closely with the Hispanic population, and because her ancestry can be traced directly and consistently to people of Spanish origin.

Answer 3

Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who formally joined the US Supreme Court on August 8, 2009, is the first Latina, or Hispanic woman, on the Court.

Answer 4

Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who formally joined the US Supreme Court on August 8, 2009, is the first Latina, or Hispanic woman, on the Court.