Supreme Court of the United States
Sonia Sotomayor
Associate Justice
Biography
Sonia Maria Sotomayor is an American lawyer and jurist who serves as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. She was nominated by President Barack Obama on May 26, 2009, and has served since August 8, 2009. She is the third woman U.S. Supreme Court justice.
Source: Wikipedia
Education & Career
Undergraduate
Princeton University, A.B. in History, summa cum laude (1976)
Law School
Yale Law School, J.D. (1979)
Prior Roles
- —Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (1998–2009)
- —Judge, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (1992–1998)
- —Assistant District Attorney, Manhattan (1979–1984)
Judicial Philosophy
Sotomayor takes a living constitutionalist approach, emphasizing how the Constitution's broad principles apply to contemporary circumstances. She has written frequently on the role of personal experience in judicial decision-making and on criminal procedure and civil rights.
Notable Opinions
Utah v. Strieff
2016
Dissented from a ruling allowing evidence found during an unlawful stop to be admitted when the officer discovered an outstanding warrant. Argued the decision would disproportionately affect minority communities and undermine Fourth Amendment protections.
Peña-Rodriguez v. Colorado
2017
Held that the Sixth Amendment's right to an impartial jury requires an exception to the general rule against impeaching jury verdicts when a juror has made a clear statement indicating reliance on racial bias.
Trump v. United States
2024
Dissented from the Court's ruling granting former presidents broad immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts, arguing the decision places the President above the law.