Sonia Sotomayor, born on June 25, 1954, in the Bronx, New York City, is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Appointed by President Barack Obama, she has served on the Court since August 2009, becoming both the first Hispanic and the third woman to hold this position.
Sotomayor earned her Bachelor of Arts summa cum laude from Princeton University in 1976 and received her Juris Doctor from Yale Law School in 1979. She began her legal career as an assistant district attorney in New York before transitioning to private practice. Her judicial tenure includes serving as a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit prior to her appointment to the Supreme Court.
In recent years, there has been speculation about Sotomayor’s retirement, with some liberal commentators suggesting that she consider stepping down to allow for a successor appointed by a Democratic president. However, as of late 2024, Sotomayor indicated her intention to remain on the Supreme Court.
Beyond her judicial duties, Sotomayor continues to engage with the public through her writing. She is set to release a new children’s picture book titled “Just Shine! How to Be a Better You,” inspired by her late mother, Celina Báez. The book, illustrated by Jacqueline Alcántara, is scheduled for release on September 9, 2025, and aims to teach children the importance of recognizing and nurturing the unique qualities in others.