Confirmation Hearings begin of Supreme Court Judge nominee Sonia Sotomayer

Today began the confirmation hearings of the U.S. Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayer. Actually, she may have a 90% for - 10% against -  chance of winning her nomination, but Sonia Sotomayer is determined to keep what she calls her judicial philosophy.

She says, " It is simple: fidelity to the law. The task of a judge is not to make law, it is to apply the law. And it is clear, I believe, that my record...reflects my rigorous commitment to interpreting statutes according to their terms and Congress's intent and hewing faithfully to precedents established by the Supreme Court and by my Circuit Court. In each case I have heard, I have applied the law to the facts at hand."
It is also interesting to note that the people that mostly criticized her in their opening statements were Republicans, and the ones to praise her for her actions as a circuit court judge were Democrats.

This will obviously be a big win for Barack Obama as he nominated her to become a Supreme court justice. She will be one of eight justices to serve with the Chief Justice of the United States, John G. Roberts Jr. who was elected to that office since September 29, 2005 by George W. Bush. The position as a judge in the Supreme court would mean a lifetime commitment to that position as the term length of a Supreme Court judge is life tenure. She will be one of eight members of the Court and they are officially Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States, not "Associate Justices of the United States." In fact, the Chief Justice is the only member of the Court to whom the Constitution refers as a "Justice," and only in Article I. Article III of the Constitution refers to all members of the Supreme Court (and of other federal courts) simply as "Judges."It is interesting to note that the salary of a supreme court justice John G Roberts, Jr.is $217,400 per year.

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Obama picks Federal Judge Sonia Sotomayor to be the next Supreme Court Judge to replace David Souter

In a much anticipated choice of Barack Obama, he nominiated federal Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court. She represents hispanics for the first time for a U.S. Supreme Court Justice position. At age 54, she has now reached the highest office you can obtain as a judge. Still, she must be confirmed. President Obama says Sotomayor "is an inspiring woman who I believe will make a great justice," during a White House announcement. He believes that she has more experience which qualifies her for the job, more than any other seated judge when they acquired their office. Humbled for the nomination, she thanked President Obama for the nominiation. She claims "My heart is bursting with gratitude. I am an ordinary person who has been blessed with extraordinary opportunities and experiences."
President Obama met her briefly for about an hour Thursday, and did not make the announcement of his choice until today. Predident Obama most likely made his decision, but did not want to make any formal announcements until today. She will now be vacating the position as judge on the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, and received a nomination by President George H.W. Bush in 1992. President Clinton elevated her to her current seat. Obama's nominee will replace retiring Justice David Souter, who announced this month he would step down when the court's current session ends this summer.
She had a tuff road to where she is now, as she started her humble beginning living in a housing project in South Bronx, but then went on to attend Princeton University and eventually attended Yale Law School.

CNN's Jim Acosta reports Judge Sonia Sotomayor will be President Obama's nominee to the Supreme Court

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