Madame Justice

The Senate has just confirmed Sonia Sotomayor as the first hispanic Supreme Court Justice in a 68-31 vote. This is President Obama's first Supreme Court appointment and is seen as a win for progressives and hispanics alike.

Democrats praised her saying she brings a moderate voice to the bench while the Repubs say she will come to the court with a liberal agenda. She replaces David Souter, a liberal who was appointed by George H.W. Bush, ironically enough.

Sonia Sotomayor was confirmed as the 111th Supreme Court Justice, the first hispanic, and only the third female. (Sandra Day O'Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg are the other two). She is of Puerto Rican decent and was born in the Bronx. She graduated from Princenton University Summa Cum Laude in 1976 and went on to gradulate Yale Law School in 1979. Wow, quite a ways from 180th street and the D train.

She worked in private practice and was an assistant disctrict attorney until George H.W. Bush nominated her to the U.S. Court for the Southern District of New York in 1991. President Clinton nominated her to the U.S. Court of Appeals in 1997 and she was eventually confirmed in 1998 (Confirmation slowed due to the Repub majority in the senate)

Congratulations Justice Sotomayor!

Sotomayor on her way to being first Hispanic Supe Court Justice

The Senate Judiciary Committee just approved Sonia Sotomayor for the Supreme Court, which would make her the first Hispanic Supreme Court Justice in our nation's 233 year history. Soon-to-be Supe Justice Sotomayor was approved in a 13-6 vote today with one Repub siding with the Dems to approve. Senator Lindsay Graham of South Carolina had a "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" attitude today when he voted to approve Sotomayor. The next step is the confirmation vote next week. An exciting time for the Hispanic and progressive community!

Still no winner?!

Well it has been four months since the election and while Barack Obama already has hung every last picture on the wall and every last box is unpacked in the White House (in fairness, the staff did all of that during the inauguration) Al Franken and Norm Coleman are STILL duking it out for the U.S. Senate job representing Minnesota. Al Franken currently holds a 225 vote lead against the incumbent repub but it's not over yet. Even though there has already been a by-hand recount, repubs are saying they will take it all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary. Can't blame them, if Al Gore or John Kerry put up this much of a fight the last eight years might have gone differently.

Franken as Stuart Smalley on SNL circa 1995

Supreme Court Justice Ginsburg has cancer

Ruth Bader Ginsburg was hospitalized today for Pancreatic Cancer. She has had colon cancer in the past. She is 75 and one of the most liberal justices on the Supreme Court. She has said in the past she sees herself staying on the court well into her 80's. Hopefully she will, for her sake and ours. Get well Justice Ginsburg.