SOTOMAYOR CONFIRMED TO U.S. SUPREME COURT, 68-31
06 August 2009 3:25 pm by Taylor Marsh
History made.
The first Hispanic appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court in U.S. history, Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor is now just the second woman on the Court.
Dan Abrams offered analysis:
“We like our public institutions to reflect the way the country looks. … .. But the reality is it’s a good thing for the Court if it tends to look more like the public at large and so when you have a single woman or no women up there, it tends to, I think for many women [crosstalk]… whatever the case may be, it tends to say does this institution that’s so important really reflect me? And I think the fact that there is another woman up there is very good for those purposes alone. … I do think that it matters in terms of public perception.”
Just another note, it was Sen. Al Franken who presided over Sotomayor vote, taking a potential “golden gavel” moment to make himself seen, which Senate Majority Leader Reid orchestrated. Though it should be noted that junior senators usually preside over these types of details. It’s always nice to get the nod when something so historic is announced.
