Quick Info
| Profession | Jurist and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States |
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| Nationality | American |
| Date of Birth | 25/06/1954 |
| Age | 72 years |
| Birthplace | Bronx, New York City, New York, USA |
| Zodiac Sign | Cancer |
Latest News about Sonia Sotomayor
Sotomayor and Justice Neil Gorsuch jointly criticized what they called a 'constitutional absurdity' in a criminal prosecution of a Mexican immigrant, with both justices highlighting the case as an example of perceived government overreach. The joint statement was described as the latest instance of the two justices, appointed by different presidents, speaking together on such concerns.
Sotomayor publicly apologized to fellow Justice Brett Kavanaugh after criticizing his writing in an earlier immigration case during a recent appearance at the University of Kansas School of Law. She said her remarks were inappropriate and that she regretted the hurtful comments, and she stated that she had already apologized to her colleague directly.
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Bio/Wiki
| Overview | Sonia Maria Sotomayor is a sitting U.S. Supreme Court justice who joined the Court in 2009. She was the first Latina to serve on the Court and its third woman justice. Earlier she served as a federal trial judge and as an appellate judge. |
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| Heritage | She is of Puerto Rican descent and was raised in a public housing complex in the Bronx. |
| Current Role | Remains an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court as of October 2026, and in 2026 she has been speaking publicly at law schools and universities on civics, the judiciary and democracy. |
Educational Qualification(s)
| High School | Cardinal Spellman High School, Bronx (valedictorian, 1972) |
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| Undergraduate | Princeton University, BA, 1976, summa cum laude, awarded the Pyne Prize |
| Law School | Yale Law School, JD, 1979, served as an editor of the Yale Law Journal |
Personal Life
| Health | Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age seven and manages it with daily insulin. |
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| Early Interests | Developed an interest in law and courtroom drama in childhood. |
Relationships & More
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Family
| Father | Juan Sotomayor (died when Sonia was nine) |
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| Mother | Celina Baez Sotomayor (a nurse) |
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Career
| Assistant District Attorney | New York County District Attorney's Office, 1979-1984 |
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| Private Practice | Pavia & Harcourt, New York City, associate then partner, 1984-1992, focusing on international commercial litigation |
| U.S. District Court | Judge, Southern District of New York, 1992-1998, nominated by George H. W. Bush |
| U.S. Court of Appeals | Judge, Second Circuit, 1998-2009, nominated by Bill Clinton |
| U.S. Supreme Court | Associate Justice from 08/08/2009, nominated by Barack Obama to succeed David Souter |
Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. Her mother saved money to buy encyclopedias so the children could learn at home. | |
| 2. She was inspired early on by the television series Perry Mason. | |
| 3. She was the eldest of two children born to her parents. | |
| 4. Her parents had moved from Puerto Rico to New York in the years after World War II. | |
| 5. She serves on the board of the nonprofit iCivics, which was founded by former Justice Sandra Day O'Connor to modernize civics education. |
