Uncategorized

Sotomayor Sworn in to Supreme Court

Judge Sonia Sotomayor was officially sworn in as an associate justice of the Supreme Court on Saturday. Chief Justice John Roberts administered the oath to Sotomayor in two small ceremonies at the Supreme Court building, reports the New York Times.

During the first ceremony, Sotomayor took the oath required of all federal employees to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States” with her immediate family and Justice Anthony M. Kennedy present. Next, Sotomayor took the judicial oath in a slightly larger, televised ceremony with special guests including White House Counsel Gregory Craig, Assistant Counsel Cynthia Hogan, and Representative Nydia M. Velazquez (D-NY) in attendance, according to the Los Angeles Times.

President Obama will congratulate Justice Sotomayor at a White House reception on Wednesday, according to the the New York Times. Sotomayor will be seated with the Court for the first time in an investiture ceremony on September 8.

Justice Sotomayor, President Barack Obama’s first Supreme Court nominee, was confirmed last week by a 68-31 Senate vote. She will be the 111th justice, the third woman, and first Hispanic to serve on the Supreme Court.

Sources:

New York Times 8/8/09; Los Angeles Times 8/9/09; Feminist Daily Newswire 8/7/09

Support eh ERA banner