Sonia Sotomayor Supreme Court nomination Sonia Sotomayor Supreme Court nomination On May 26, 2009, President Barack Obama announced his selection of Judge Sonia Sotomayor for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, to replace retiring Justice David Souter. Sotomayor's nomination was submitted to the United States Senate on June 1, 2009, when the 111th Congress reconvened after its Memorial Day recess. Sotomayor was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on August 6, 2009 by a 68–31 vote and was commissioned by President Obama the same day. She was sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts on August 8, 2009. When nominated, Sotomayor was
Sonia Sotomayor Supreme Court nomination Judiciary Committee on July 28, 2009, which then voted out a recommendation to the full Senate. Chairman Democrat Patrick Leahy of Vermont said he expected Sotomayor to be in the "mold of Justice Souter, who understands the real-world impact of the Court's decisions, rather than the mold of conservative activists who second-guess Congress." Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania said, "Her confirmation would add needed diversity in two ways: the first Hispanic and the third woman to serve on the high court." Russ Feingold of Wisconsin said that "from all accounts, she is a highly qualified and very experienced judge." Orrin Hatch