NEW YORK—Judge Sonia Sotomayor was sworn in as the first Hispanic associate justice on the U.S. Supreme Court on Saturday, becoming the 111th judge and third woman to enter the highest court in the land.
Sotomayor repeated two oaths administrated by Chief Justice John Roberts. She first swore one in a private ceremony at the Supreme Court, which was only opened to family members. Then she swore a second oath in an on-camera ceremony with fellow judges, family members, friends, and reporters.
Putting her left hand on a Bible held by her mother, Celina, Sotomayor swore to “administer justice without respect to persons and do equal right to the poor and to the rich.”
Her swearing in put a finish to a nomination process, in which her victory was evident almost from the beginning. The Democratic majority in the Senate gave her a guarantee, as all Democrats backed her up loyally.
Before becoming a Supreme Court Justice, the Bronx-born and Ivy League graduate Sotomayor served 17 years on the federal courts, including U.S. District Court and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
Next week, she will appear at the White House with President Barack Obama, who nominated her in May to replace the retiring Justice David Souter.
Sotomayor repeated two oaths administrated by Chief Justice John Roberts. She first swore one in a private ceremony at the Supreme Court, which was only opened to family members. Then she swore a second oath in an on-camera ceremony with fellow judges, family members, friends, and reporters.
Putting her left hand on a Bible held by her mother, Celina, Sotomayor swore to “administer justice without respect to persons and do equal right to the poor and to the rich.”
Her swearing in put a finish to a nomination process, in which her victory was evident almost from the beginning. The Democratic majority in the Senate gave her a guarantee, as all Democrats backed her up loyally.
Before becoming a Supreme Court Justice, the Bronx-born and Ivy League graduate Sotomayor served 17 years on the federal courts, including U.S. District Court and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
Next week, she will appear at the White House with President Barack Obama, who nominated her in May to replace the retiring Justice David Souter.
