August 8: Sonia Sotomayor Joins the Supreme Court (2009)
Prayer Idea
Pray for Justice Sonia Sotomayor and her work on the Supreme Court.
History Note
Sonia Sotomayor was born in the Bronx, New York, on June 25, 1954. Her parents were both from Puerto Rico. Her father died when she was nine, and her mother worked as a nurse. The TV show Perry Mason encouraged Sonia to seek a legal career.
Sotomayor attended Princeton University and Yale Law School. She worked as an assistant district attorney in New York County and in private practice.
President George H. W. Bush appointed her to be a federal district judge in 1992, and President Clinton appointed her to be a circuit judge in 1997. President Obama nominated her to the Supreme Court in 2009. The Senate confirmed her 68-31, making her the first justice with Hispanic heritage.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor hugs her mother at a White House ceremony in August 2010, a few days after her swearing-in. Official White House Photo by Pete Souza.
Learn More
In this interview, Justice Sonia Sotomayor shares her perspective on growing up, learning to manage diabetes, pursuing education, and eventually serving on the U.S. Supreme Court.
Please Note: Justice Sotomayor mentions that her father was an alcoholic who fought with her mother. Her father died when she was nine, and her mother struggled with depression.
Find more resources at Homeschool History.
