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| Sotomayor joins US Supreme Court | |
| (2 days later) | |
| Sonia Sotomayor has been sworn in as the United States' 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. | 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 was sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts at a brief ceremony that was the first one open to television cameras in the court's history. | Ms Sotomayor was sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts at a brief ceremony that was 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 |
| Standing next to her mother and brother, she pledged to "faithfully and impartially" discharge her duties. | Standing next to her mother and brother, she pledged to "faithfully and impartially" discharge her duties. |
| The public ceremony followed a private one minutes earlier in which she promised to support and defend the constitution. | The public ceremony followed a private one minutes earlier in which she promised to support and defend the constitution. |
| Sonia Sotomayor is President Barack Obama's first nominee to the nine-member court. | Sonia Sotomayor is President Barack Obama's first nominee to the nine-member court. |
| Her appointment - as a successor to liberal Justice David Souter, who retired - is not expected to change its ideological balance. | Her appointment - as a successor to liberal Justice David Souter, who retired - is not expected to change its ideological balance. |
| 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". |