Sotomayor election

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A U.S. Senate vote of 68‐31 ushered the nation and its court system into a new era of diversity, confirming federal appeals court judge Sonia Sotomayor as the first Hispanic to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Sotomayor, 55, will be the 111th person to sit on the high court and the third female justice.

The United Methodist General Commission on Religion & Race (GCORR) congratulates Judge Sotomayor in this historic moment, and celebrates along with the Hispanic community and the nation, in recognizing that the pursuit of diversity and excellence are not exclusionary.

This decision recognizes that there is no realm where diversity should not have access.

“To be able to add another person of color to a bench that represents the best legal minds in this country, is only natural,” said Erin Hawkins, GCORR chief executive. “This decision recognizes that there is no realm where diversity should not have access. When we can truly embrace that, in The United Methodist Church, as in the country, we will all benefit richly.”

President Barack Obama’s nominee repeatedly drew fire during confirmation hearings with criticism that Sotomayor would bring her ethnic bias to court decisions. She was born in the Bronx of Puerto Rican parents who came to the U.S. during World War II.

’A wise Latina woman’

Opponents of the nomination took aim at a speech given by Judge Sotomayor in which she said "a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would, more often than not, reach a better conclusion than a white male judge.”

Sotomayor maintained the statement had been an attempt at a play on words that she said “fell flat.” The judge was also criticized by conservatives for her majority vote in a federal appeals court dismissal of a discrimination lawsuit brought by white firefighters in Connecticut. The 2-1 ruling was overturned this summer by the U.S. Supreme Court.

In the end, the senate vote echoed the sentiments of the nation, according to a CNN poll. The poll, released last week showed that 51% of U.S. citizens wanted the Senate to confirm Sotomayor, while 36% did not. The support figure is slightly higher than before the confirmation hearings.

In the Senate vote, Sotomayor received all but one Democratic vote. Sen. Ted Kennedy, who said he supported her was unable to vote due to illness. Nine Republicans voted for her. News analysts pointed out that none of those who voted against the confirmation are up for reelection during the mid-term cycle.

Judge Sotomayor was sworn in as the 111th Justice of the Supreme Court in a private ceremony on Aug. 8 at the U.S. Supreme Court by Chief Justice John Roberts.

Humble beginnings

Sotomayor's confirmation to the nation’s highest court marks an inspiring ascendancy from her humble beginnings. Her father worked in a factory, didn't speak English and died when she was nine years old. She grew up in a public housing project with her mother who raised her and her younger brother.

Sotomayor graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University and went on to attend Yale Law School, where she was editor of the Yale Law Journal. She worked at nearly every level of the judicial system, including as a district attorney, over a three-decade career before President Obama chose her to replace retiring Justice David Souter on the Supreme Court.

Sotomayor has served on the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals since 1998. She was named a district judge by President George H.W. Bush in 1992 and was appointed to her current seat by President Clinton.

 The General Commission on Religion & Racefocuses on helping the denomination eradicate racism and embrace inclusiveness by equipping, educating, evaluating and advocating to address diversity at all levels of the church. You can contact the agency via e-mail to info@gcorr.org or at (202) 547-2271.