Obama To Nominate Sonia Sotomayor For Supreme Court

Officials say that President Obama will nominated U.S. Court of Appeals judge Sonia Sotomayor to fill David Souter's seat on the Supreme Court. Sotomayor, who grew up in a Bronx public housing project and was named to the federal bench by President George H.W. Bush, has been mentioned as a possible nominee since even before the election. The announcement will be made at 10:15 a.m.; the Caucus reports, "The president reached his decision over the long Memorial Day weekend...The president narrowed his list to four, according to people close to the selection process, including Federal Appeals Judge Diane P. Wood of Chicago, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Solicitor General Elena Kagan." Obama hopes to have his pick confirmed by the time Senate recesses in August. SCOTUS blog has an interesting post on a Sotomayor nomination: "For Republican Senators to come after Judge Sotomayor is not only hopeless when it comes to confirmation (something that did not deter Democrats in their attacks on Roberts and Alito) but a strategy that risks exacting a very significant political cost among Hispanics and independent voters generally."

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By Jen Chung in News on May 26, 2009 8:45 AM

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coconutendo

"Conservative groups have criticized Sotomayor for 2005

remarks in which she suggested that judges played a role in

making the law and not just interpreting it. Appellate courts are “where policy is made,” she said."

Hooray for legislation from the bench.

MFer

@toby. Then name a better person for the job. What in her resume seems lacking? Do tell.

Toby von Meistersinger

It seems more of a calculated political move instead of choosing the best person for the job, but what do you expect from politicians?

Politburo

Since you've implied that this isn't the best person for the job, maybe you can tell us who is better, and why?

SP

You would have preferred Harriet Myers, right?

suepart

this somewhat predictable move is also calculated not to draw fire for the fact that whatever her qualifications, she is a woman as well. so a double whammy. if it was added that she was a lesbian, then that is the trifecta right there for democratic party nominations.