The Nomination of Sonia Sotomayor for Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court

A New Justice on the Supreme Court:
WhyIt Matters to Women

The U.S. Senate has confirmed Judge Sonia Sotomayor to be the next Associate Justice on the Supreme Court. The confirmation of the first Latina and woman of color, and only the third woman, to sit on the Supreme Court means the bench will now better reflect the rich diversity of our country.

The National Women's Law Center is proud to have supported Judge Sotomayor's nomination and we applaud the Senate for making history with its strong vote to approve her confirmation. Our review of Judge Sotomayor's legal record and testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee revealed that she is an impressive judge who is deeply respectful of legal precedent, carefully articulates the legal precedents that she is following and anchors her decisions in the details of the specific factual record. This careful and thoughtful record reflects her fairness, open mind, and willingness to fully apply the hard-won legal rights upon which women rely.

NWLC's Report on Judge Sotomayor's Legal Record & Testimony

• The Record of Judge Sonia Sotomayor on Critical Legal Rights for Women
• The Center's Criteria
• Background
• Judge Sotomayor's Legal Record
• Conclusion
• Download the full report as a PDF
• Press Statement: NWLC Releases New Report on Judge Sotomayor's Legal Record and Testimony (July 17, 2009)

The Thinking Woman's Guide to the Supreme Court Hearings

• Check outThe Thinking Woman's Guide to the Supreme Court Confirmation Hearings.

From NWLC's Blog

• "Thank Your Senator(s) for Confirming Judge Sotomayor," by Marcia D. Greenberger, NWLC's Co-President, August 10, 2009
• "Center Applauds Senate's Vote to Confirm Sotomayor as 'Defining Moment'," August 6, 2009
• "This Woman's Place is on the Supreme Court: Help Confirm Judge Sotomayor," by Marcia Greenberger, NWLC's Co-President, August 5, 2009
• "Historing in the Making," by Marcia Greenberger, NWLC's Co-President, August 4, 2009
• Check out our blog, for more commentary and analysisof the Supreme Court confirmation hearings.

Get the Facts

• NWLC Statement: Center Applauds Senate's Vote to Confirm Sotomayor as 'Defining Moment' (August 6, 2009)
• NWLC Report on: The Record of Judge Sonia Sotomayor on Critical Legal Rights for Women (July 2009)
• NWLC Statement: Judiciary Committee Approves Sotomayor's Nomination: NWLC Applauds Swift Action, Urges the Senate to Vote before August Recess (July 28, 2009)
• NWLC Statement on the Nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court (May 26, 2009)
• Fact Sheet: The Supreme Court: Every Vote Counts (May 2009)
• Fact Sheet: Justice Souter's Important Role in Protecting Women's Legal Rights (May 2009)

NWLC In the News

• Blogs Comment on Women's Health Disparities, Sotomayor Nomination, Other Topics, Medical News Today, June 17, 20009
• Women's Groups Vow to Fight for Swift Confirmation, The Washington Post, May 26, 2009
• Supreme stats: 106 white males among 110 justices, The Associated Press, May 20, 2009
• What another woman would bring to Supreme Court, The Christian Science Monitor, May 18, 2009
• Ginsburg: Court needs another woman, USA Today, May 6, 2009
• Ginsburg: Supreme Court needs women, United Press International, May 6, 2009