Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor was sworn in Saturday and although she won’t begin work for a month, her tenure is already noteworthy.
She is the court’s first Hispanic justice and only the third woman to serve. Her confirmation last week was front page news in Puerto Rican newspapers, and Saturday’s swearing-in ceremony was widely celebrated on the island.
Although Sotomayor grew up in the Bronx, she has always emphasized her Puerto Rican heritage. Throughout her career she has spoken often about the importance of preserving the island’s culture and fighting poverty.
We look forward to seeing how her presence shifts the court. Her remark praising her own abilities as a “wise Latina,” may have troubled some critics, but such a perspective should be welcome on the nation’s highest court. Certainly Hispanic communities will see it as a welcome point of view.
The general assessment is that appointing Sotomayor will not change the direction of the court, since she replaces Justice David Souter, whose moderate views are similar to her own. That’s probably not right; each justice approaches the task differently, and it is the work of all 12 that drives the court’s evolution.
What’s not yet clear is whether, by the strength and eloquence of her opinions, or by her political skills, Sotomayor will be able to be more influential than the man she replaces. Although Souter was wise and articulate, Sotomayor may turn out to have a more dynamic voice.
Her ambition, intellect and hard work have taken her far. We hope they serve her well in her Supreme Court career.
— Questions? Comments? Contact Kristen Schulze Muszynski or Nick Cowenhoven at 282-1535 or kristenm@journaltribune.com or nickc@journaltribune.com.
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