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Sotomayor sworn in as top judge | |
(about 6 hours later) | |
Sonia Sotomayor has been sworn in as America's first Hispanic Supreme Court justice, after a summer of debate over her nomination. | |
Ms Sotomayor, 55, becomes only the third woman to sit on the court. | |
On Thursday, the Senate voted 68-31 to approve her with 59 Democrats and nine Republicans voting in favour. | On Thursday, the Senate voted 68-31 to approve her with 59 Democrats and nine Republicans voting in favour. |
The Supreme Court is the highest court in the US, with the power to strike down unconstitutional laws. Once appointed, justices serve for life. | The Supreme Court is the highest court in the US, with the power to strike down unconstitutional laws. Once appointed, justices serve for life. |
They are nominated by the president, but must receive approval from a majority of senators before they can take up their post. | They are nominated by the president, but must receive approval from a majority of senators before they can take up their post. |
Ms Sotomayor is being sworn by Chief Justice John Roberts in a Washington ceremony that is the first one open to television cameras in the court's history. | |
RISE OF SONIA SOTOMAYOR 1954: Born in South Bronx to Puerto Rican parentsFather died when she was aged nine and she was raised solely by her mother1979: Graduates from Yale and serves as an assistant district attorney in New York County1984: Moves into private practice, specialising in intellectual property1991: George Bush Snr chooses her as a district judge1997: Bill Clinton nominates her to the circuit court Profile: Sonia Sotomayor Sotomayor on the spot Q&A: US Supreme Court | RISE OF SONIA SOTOMAYOR 1954: Born in South Bronx to Puerto Rican parentsFather died when she was aged nine and she was raised solely by her mother1979: Graduates from Yale and serves as an assistant district attorney in New York County1984: Moves into private practice, specialising in intellectual property1991: George Bush Snr chooses her as a district judge1997: Bill Clinton nominates her to the circuit court Profile: Sonia Sotomayor Sotomayor on the spot Q&A: US Supreme Court |
The public ceremony follows a private one earlier in the day. | |
Ms Sotomayor was born to poor Puerto Rican parents on a New York public housing project, rising to become a respected judicial scholar and judge. | Ms Sotomayor was born to poor Puerto Rican parents on a New York public housing project, rising to become a respected judicial scholar and judge. |
Some Republicans had been critical of her record of speeches - and some rulings - saying they had revealed that she allowed her opinion to affect her decisions. | Some Republicans had been critical of her record of speeches - and some rulings - saying they had revealed that she allowed her opinion to affect her decisions. |
During her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, she was asked repeatedly about a speech in which she had remarked that "a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would, more often than not, reach a better conclusion" than a white male judge. | During her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, she was asked repeatedly about a speech in which she had remarked that "a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would, more often than not, reach a better conclusion" than a white male judge. |
Critics said the remark could have been perceived as racist, but Ms Sotomayor maintained the comments had been an attempted "play on words" that "fell flat". | Critics said the remark could have been perceived as racist, but Ms Sotomayor maintained the comments had been an attempted "play on words" that "fell flat". |