By: Carolina Caridi Period 7 Spanish 1

 Sonia Sotomayor was born on June 25 th, 1954 in the South Bronx area of New York City.  She is the oldest of two children.  Her parents, Juan and Celina, are of Puerto Rican descent and moved to America to raise a family. Her mother was a nurse and her father was a tool- and-die worker. Unfortunately, Sonia’s father passed away when Sonia was only nine years old.

Above is a picture of Sonia Sotomayor when she was a baby. Her parents, Juan and Celina Sotomayor are behind her.

 Sonia was raised in the South Bronx and lived around other Puerto Ricans. She was identified as a Nuyorican (New York and Puerto Rico combined).  In 1957 her family moved to the ethnically mixed Bronxdale Houses housing project in Soundview.  At age eight, Sonia got diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.  Unfortunately, Sonia’s father passed away when Sonia was only nine years old.  She lived close to the Yankee Stadium, this lead to her becoming a lifelong fan of the New York Yankees. She got together with her extended family regularly.  Sonia also became fluent in English. In 1972, while in high school, Sonia was the valedictorian and became interested in politics.

Above is a picture of Sonia as a young girl. She is six years of age in this photo.

 Sonia attended Princeton University for college on a full scholarship.  She became a co-chair of the Accion Puertorriquena organization.  In the last two years of her college years, Sonia received almost all A’s. In her senior year, Sonia won many awards and prizes for her strong grades and her extra-curricular activities.  Once again on a scholarship, Sonia entered Yale Law School in In 1979, Sonia was awarded a Juris Doctor (J.D.) award.  In 1980, she was admitted to the New York Bar.

Sotomayor’s 1976 Princeton yearbook photo.

 Sonia Sotomayor dated Kevin Edward Noonan throughout high school.  Once out of college, she married Kevin in a chapel at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York on August 14,  Her married name is Sonia Sotomayor de Noonan.  Her husband became a biologist and a patent lawyer.

This picture is where Sonia Sotomayor and Kevin Edward Noonan were married on August 14 th, 1976.

 In 1979, Sonia was hired out of law school as an assistant district attorney in New York County.  Sonia was usually busy with cases involving everything from shoplifting to murders. She also dealt with cases involving police brutality.  Sonia was never afraid to go to any neighborhood to deal with any case.

Sonia Sotomayor as a Former Assistant District Attorney dealing with the Tarzan murderer.

 Sonia Sotomayor had wanted to become a judge since she was in elementary school.  Sonia was recommended for a spot by Democratic New York senator Daniel Moynihan in In November of the same year, she was nominated by President George H. W. Bush to be on the U. S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.  She won the praise of Senator Ted Kennedy. Sonia had become the first Hispanic federal judge in all of New York state. She had also become the youngest judge in the Southern District and she became the first Puerto Rican woman to serve as a judge in a U. S. federal court.  When it came to the public spotlight, she kept a low profile.  She had gained a reputation as being tough on criminal cases. A Syracuse University study showed that Sotomayor usually sentenced longer times in jail than her other colleagues.

This is a picture of Judge Sonia Sotomayor in the midst of dealing with a case.

 Ever since President Obama has been elected, there were conversations that Sonia could possibly become a leading candidate for a Supreme Court seat when one becomes available during Obama’s term in office.  On May 26 th, 2009, Sonia Sotomayor became the second jurist nominated to three different judicial positions, each by different presidents.  A week after Sonia’s nomination, 54% of Americans were in favor of her confirmation. On the other hand, 28% of Americans felt the opposite way.  Sonia Sotomayor became the first Hispanic to serve on the Supreme Court.

President Barack Obama meeting with Court Judge Sonia Sotomayor, the nominee, and Vice President Joe Biden on May 26, 2009.

 At New York University School of Law, Sonia taught trial and appellate advocacy. She was a lecturer in law at Columbia Law School since Since 1993, Sotomayor has given over 180 speeches.  Greenwich Village in New York City is where Sonia lives as of right now.  Sonia enjoys activities such as shopping, travelling, and giving gifts. She also helps support her mother and stepfather in Florida. Sonia also likes to attend Yankee baseball games with her family.  Sotomayor still has diabetes and she continues to take daily insulin injections, but her condition is well controlled.  Sonia attends church on important dates.  Sotomayor had divorced her high school sweetheart, and had started a different relationship in She had become engaged to Peter White, a construction contractor, but sadly, her relationship had ended in

Sotomayor with her nephews at Yankee Stadium in 2007.