On Thursday Aug. 6, Judge Sonia Sotomayor was appointed the nation’s first Hispanic and third female Supreme Court Justice. 

Sotomayor was born into a Puerto Rican family in the Bronx, New York, and raised in a housing project. She then grew up to earn a degree from Yale Law School, has received honorary degrees from Lehman College, Princeton University, Brooklyn Law School, Pace University School of Law, Hofstra University, and Northeastern University and graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University.  

Robert Bradley, ISU professor of politics and government, took a handful of students to Washington, D.C. to attend this historic confirmation hearing. Here, they were able to see Sotomayor being questioned by both Democrats and Republicans. 

“The students recognized the importance of what they were witnessing; it was the highlight of their year,” Bradley said.

“It was an honor just to get in; I never thought I would see that up close and personal… It’s great that they open it up to the public, just to be a part of that experience is special,” Jason Nippa, senior political science major and attendee on the trip, said. 

However, some still question Sotomayor’s new position. Those against her feel she will not be able to refrain from bringing her personal political opinions into the courtroom. 

“I actually see that less with her than most other recent appointees to the court,” Bradley said. “She will be strikingly similar to David Sutor, the man she will replace.” 

Bradley explained that when you think about Sutor and the way he made decisions, Sotomayor and her viewpoints are very similar. 

“She answered all questions well [and] seems supremely qualified. She proved through the confirmation process she is more than [eligible],” Nippa said, looking back on the trip. 

One very famous statement Sotomayor made was one that spurred controversy. She said, “a wise Latina woman, with the richness of her experiences” would reach a better conclusion than a white man “who hasn’t lived that life.” 

“Those in opposition to her had to sink their teeth into her somehow. There is little to attack her on,” Bradley said about her comment. “It was portrayed that that was all that was said, but there were things said before and after the comment.” 

He went on to explain that the message she was trying to get across was the idea that she has had different experiences given her upbringing.

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts administered the oath of office this past Saturday. Sotomayor will assume her seat in September.