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AP Photo/New York Law Journal, Rick Kopstein
Supreme Court Justice designate Sonia Sotomayor smiles during a celebration at the federal courthouse in New York after being confirmed by the Senate as the nation’s first Hispanic Supreme Court justice on Thursday.
Published Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009 | 12:23 p.m.
Updated Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009 | 7:16 p.m.
Sotomayor Confirmation
The Senate confirmed Sonia Sotomayor on Thursday as the first Hispanic justice on the Supreme Court.
The vote was 68-31 for President Barack Obama's first high court nominee as she becomes the 111th justice and just the third woman to serve. Sen. Harry Reid voted in favor and Sen. John Ensign voted against the confirmation.
Members of the Las Vegas Hispanic community who gathered to watch the confirmation at Esmeralda’s restaurant on East Charleston Boulevard were jubilant Thursday afternoon.
The event was sponsored by Democracia Ahora, a nonpartisan Latino empowerment organization. Marco Rauda, the group's Nevada director, said he wanted to let the community know about the milestone.
"This is definitely a historic moment," Rauda said.
Rauda said Sotomayor's confirmation is a positive step for both the Latino community and women. He said it goes to show that hard work and education can pay off no matter what a person’s background might be.
"This just means my little sisters don't have an excuse," he said. "It means coming from a rough neighborhood should not stop you, being a child of an immigrant should not stop you to get where you want to get to, as long as you go to school."
Rauda also said Sotomayor's addition to the Supreme Court would not only benefit Latinos but the country as a whole, saying Sotomayor brings extensive experience to the court.
Another watcher, 16-year-old Joseph Hill, said he recently had a discussion about Thurgood Marshall's confirmation to the court and the effect it had on the black community. Hill said Sotomayor's confirmation will have the same influence on Latinos in the United States.
"With me being an interracial individual, it really hits home that there is a bigger picture … that we all don't have to set ourselves up for failure, and that we can make it somewhere in life," Joseph said.
Vicenta Montoya, who is chairwoman of the Si Se Puede Latino Democratic Caucus, expressed happiness and a sense of pride as she watched the Senate vote Thursday.
"I've looked forward to this for years," Montoya said, adding that Sotomayor's confirmation shows the country is growing up.
Montoya said she'll always remember where she was when the confirmation occurred. It is something, she said, she'll be able to share with her daughter, whom she brought, and in turn, her daughter will be able to share with her children.
"It's nice to get over the first -- the first Latino, first black, first Asian, whatever. It's nice to have those milestones already set, and we can go past it," she said.
As the group watched the television, senators took the rare step of assembling at their desks on the Senate floor for the historic occasion, rising from their seats to cast their votes.
Sotomayor replaces retiring Justice David Souter, a liberal named by a Republican president, and she is not expected to alter the court's ideological split. Democrats praised the 55-year-old Sotomayor as a mainstream moderate. But most Republicans voted against her, saying she'd bring personal bias and a liberal agenda to the bench.
Reid released a statement minutes after the vote, saying "the confirmation of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court of the United States is an inspiration to not only millions of young women and Hispanic Americans, but our nation as whole. Judge Sotomayor has proven that she will be a Supreme Court Justice who respects precedent and the rule of law and will be a fair arbiter of justice to all. She has exhibited intelligence, candor, eloquence and grace not only during this confirmation process, but throughout her entire career.
Ensign released a statement Tuesday explaining his opposition to Sotomayor’s nomination.
“While I believe Judge Sotomayor is an impressive role model for millions of Americans, I take my responsibility as Nevada’s Senator very seriously, and feel I need to protect the sanctity of our Constitution," the statement read.
Nevada Democrats lashed out at Senate Republicans on Thursday for putting “politics first” and “voting against an imminently qualified nominee.”
“Today’s vote speaks volumes about the Republican Party’s willingness, and even its ability, to represent all its constituents, especially those with diverse backgrounds like that of Judge Sonia Sotomayor," said Phoebe Sweet, communications director for the Nevada State Democratic Party.
Tibi Ellis, chairwoman of the Nevada Republican Hispanic Assembly, said she is happy Sotomayor was confirmed, and it is a historic moment to have the first Hispanic woman on the Supreme Court. In response to Republicans voting against Sotomayor, Ellis said members of her party did so based not on her credentials but on her history of political activism.
She said she doesn't believe it will influence the Hispanic vote in the future. Ellis said she hopes Sotomayor can put aside her political views to serve a larger responsibility to the Constitution.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Judge Sotomayor is NOT the first hispanic on the Court is that the first justice of hispanic origin was already nominated -- by a Republican President -- and confirmed by the Senate to serve on the Supreme Court more than 70 years ago. This would be Justice Benjamin Nathan Cardozo.
Look it up for yourself.
Sotomayor will be a problematic justice. She is biased and capricious based on the history of her comments and decisions. Ensign was correct to not approve.
For some reason people don't equate portugese with latin decent.
I guess we will see Sotomayor in action pretty soon, but I really can't wait to read some of her concurrences and dissents.
Another Liberal Justice appointed but maybe more problematic than just a Liberal Judge. An activist judge is a dangerous judge. Though we don't know yet, let's hope she is not for our country's sake! At this point, I trust NOTHING that comes out of the reckless "Let's-RUSH-this- through" Obama administration.
Wise Latina my a$$.
The Republicans sure are weak. They couldn't stop her nomination. What good is an opposition party that doesn't oppose?
Rednecks lose!! Neocons lose!! Grab your guns and chewin' tobacco, we be in trouble.
First Nascar can barely find 43 cars to start at Pocono. Now this. Heartbreak in the Heartland.
Time to go back to listening to your AM radio for your political education, 'necks. Either that, or move to the slave states, where you all belong.
Rednecks lose!! Neocons lose!!
Liberals promote another underqualified, afirmative action law school graduate for one of the nation's highest offices. Wonder what city fire department she's going to "hose" next?
The rebuplisacks have blocked social progession for the last 200 years. They even voted against blacks voting. I am glad all the no votes....They just lost all the hispanic and probably the black voters. Not that they had any anyway. Let us hope that this is the end of the rebubliscums......and bring in a party like a small gov. party like the libertarists. Let have the argument where it belongs. Not the repuliscum give everything to the rich peopel
Oh, jeez. The wingnuts are in full mental meltdown mode today. I can't help but smile. Their ugly smear campaign against the most qualified federal judicial candidate in over a decade obviously didn't work. Even other Republicans are disgusted by their politics of personal destruction at work (again)!
So congratulations to Justice Sotomayor! Hopefully, we'll see more good SCOTUS appointments by President Obama and a chance to reverse this radical right shift of the court.
afveteran:
I recommend you watch this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3ZL3O2NN...
Race is still a poignant issue in America, and I think you are referencing race with your comments about affirmative action. Affirmative action is a code word for the majority to talk about race.
Sad....
I fail to see how the LONE hispanic member of the supreme court is going to make huge changes in the decisions of the justices.
If we all fear that she will be a La raza promoter the court still has 8 other people to balance her votes.
Seems [to me anyhow] to be a small happenstance when we look at the problems facing America today.
another Obama Victory. Where is John Ensign, is he going to have a town hall? Who are the Republicans going to run against Reid.
I'm a conservative constitutionalist and am not excited by the choice, however, it is tit for tat. 1 lib judge for another, when the repubs get back in the house, senate and white house, the next selection will be on the conservative side. It is just the way the game is played in Washington unfortunately.
it is what it is (although it really sucks).
You are witnessing the total self-destruction of the Republican Party.
Good riddance.
Great! OLD WHITE MEN have damaged this coutry enough. we need more minorities in goverment and more on the court!
Lets see a woman, a gay man, and other religions represented.
houstonjac and robert_lv are racists...
period...
end of story...
and...
let's all give johnnie boy ensign a quick shout out...
way to alienate the hispanic vote buddy...
as a proud liberal democrat let me personally thank you...
hee hee hee...
how are you doing...
are you still in a fetal postion on mommy and daddy's basement floor hoping mommy and daddy will fix your boo boo...
hee hee hee...
hoo hoo hoo...
haa haa haa...
You're darn tooting that affirmative action is another way of saying "promote undereducated ethnics over higher qualified applicants or promotion list candidates". The sorry decision that this new SCOTUS judge rendered proved that point in the fireman's suit against the fire department in Connecticut. The playing field isn't level yet, underqualified ethnic applicants are still getting breaks simply because of their ethnicity.
I expect she is every bit as stupid as Ruth Bader Ginzburg.
What are the worthless white senators doing for Nevada?
The supreme court should look like America not an old folks home in Minnesota
afveteran: undereducated? Sotomayor attended two of the premiere institutions in this country! I am sure that surpasses your GED and possible 5 online college units from a proprietary institution.
Your comments are illogical, if you looked at statistics on education equity - you would read about the multiple financial and social differences in "white" vs ethnic populated schools.
A diversified court is the only court I want. Could you imagine having all of them thinking the same? OMG !!
A great highly qualified experienced judge with a very high quality education on the court. Great! Ok, so now the Republicans will be remembered by minorities as a bunch of crotchedy irrelevant white guys. The dems will benefit!
"Rednecks lose!! Neocons lose!!"
nednougat -- USA loses.
revtomperl -- none of those qualifications fit Sotomayor.
Further erosion of the Constitution coming right up.
John Ensign said:
"While I believe Judge Sotomayor is an impressive role model for millions of Americans, I take my responsibility as Nevada's Senator very seriously, and feel I need to protect the sanctity of our Constitution,"
Hmmmmmm...for a moment I thought John John was going to say he was going to protect the sanctity of marriage...That would be asking too much of Nevada's junior Senator.......Right?
Ask the firefighters from Connecticut how they would have voted.
Story is way overplayed. Anyone in congress didn't think she's qualified vote so, If you thought otherwise vote so.
Votes have consequences and that's the system we have. Vote here for thumper
How sweet it is...
I am deeply sadden by the comments on here. I for one have no problem with a hispanic judge or a female judge. Both of my kids are half mexican but when you put someone on the highest court in the land who is a racist that is what I have a problem with. Almost every comment on here leans to either the left or the right or the just plain stupid. Look at her record and then decide which senator made the right decision. Not because of what that senator or congressperson has done in the past but on her record. She decided not to hear the case invloving firefighters in Mass. Why?
Ensign is out of touch with anything but male, GOP, White-speak. That, and a lot of hot, stale air. They haven't said anything NEW in decades. That's the problem. . .
wow...
i wrote:
"she's ugly"
and it got removed.
i guess an open exchange of ideas is only good if you're liberal.
I don't think Judge Sottomayor is a racist. If you examine her words she seemed to have been speaking from a perspective based on her personal observations. I also think she was saying that people from other racial/cultural/ethnic groups don't see this society the way that she does, and I believe this could be said of all Americans. We each see things from our own point of view because it's the only one we have. Problems arise when we don't allow each one of us the privilege of saying how we view this society without condemning that person's POV and placing a label on it. I taught school for 33 years and worked with students of all races and cultures. I also think this society doesn't treat everyone fairly, but I never let my opinion of this society discourage me from working with all of my students and wishing for their success because I loved teaching and seeing my students succeed. Judge Sottomayor, I might argue, may be similar to many of us in that we have these opinions, but do not act in ways that discriminate against others or deny them their rights. This is a part of all our lives, and to deny it means we aren't being truthful with ourselves. I could understand us thinking certain things if we had no sense of right and wrong, but we do, and we make a conscious effort everyday of our lives to not let our personal opinions interfere with our family, community, professional, or business relationships.
Hey Nick, odds are there probably already is a gay on the bench! But you are right. The bench is starting to look more like the real face of america. Not just old white men thinking laws shouldn't changes as america and the world constantly do.
Underqualified judges make terrible decisions. Did all of the liberal AA promoters miss that point?