Sonia Sotomayor
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court
Born 1954
First Hispanic Justice of the Supreme Court whose personal story and passionate advocacy for criminal justice and civil rights have made her one of the Court's most prominent voices.
Biography
Sonia Sotomayor has served on the Supreme Court since 2009, becoming the first Hispanic and third woman to serve on the Court. Raised in a Bronx public housing project by a single mother after her father's death, Sotomayor's path from poverty to the nation's highest court is one of the most remarkable stories in American legal history.
Sotomayor graduated summa cum laude from Princeton and attended Yale Law School, after which she served as an assistant district attorney in Manhattan. Her prosecutorial experience gave her a practical understanding of the criminal justice system that informs her opinions on Fourth Amendment, Eighth Amendment, and criminal procedure issues. She served as a federal district judge and then on the Second Circuit before joining the Supreme Court.
On the Court, Sotomayor has emerged as a forceful advocate for individual rights, particularly in criminal justice cases. Her opinions and dissents on qualified immunity, police practices, and the rights of the incarcerated reflect both her legal analysis and her life experience. She is also known for her extensive public engagement, including her bestselling memoir and her visits to schools and communities across the country.
Major Accomplishments
- 1First Hispanic Justice of the Supreme Court
- 2Served as a federal prosecutor, district judge, and appellate judge before the Court
- 3Leading voice on criminal justice reform and individual rights
- 4Authored the bestselling memoir My Beloved World
- 5Known for extensive public engagement and civic education efforts
Notable Opinions & Cases
Schuette v. Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action (dissent)
2014
Powerful dissent arguing that Michigan's ban on affirmative action undermined equal protection
Utah v. Strieff (dissent)
2016
Criticized the majority for permitting unconstitutional police stops, highlighting racial implications
Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health (dissent)
2022
Joined the dissent arguing against overturning Roe v. Wade
Torres v. Madrid
2021
Authored the majority opinion holding that a seizure occurs when police use physical force with intent to restrain, even without submission
Legacy
Sotomayor's presence on the Court represents the American ideal that talent and determination can overcome any barrier. Her opinions on criminal justice, race, and individual rights bring a perspective informed by personal experience that enriches the Court's understanding of how the law affects ordinary people. Her public engagement has made the Court more accessible to communities that have historically felt excluded from the legal system.
Famous Quotes
“I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life.”
“Until we get equality in education, we won't have an equal society.”
“There are uses to adversity, and they don't reveal themselves until tested.”
“I have spent my years since Princeton, while at law school and in my various professional jobs, learning to undo damage I perceived was done by Princeton.”