'Inspiring' Sotomayor is Obama's pick for supreme court
Barack Obama chooses New York federal judge Sonia Sotomayor to fill supreme court vacancy
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Tuesday, 26, May 2009 05:39
Barack Obama has chosen federal judge Sonia Sotomayor to fill the vacancy on the United States supreme court.
Judge Sotomayor, a judge on the second US circuit court of appears in New York, will become the first Hispanic ever to sit on the nine-member court, the country's highest.
"I have decided to nominate an inspiring woman, a great justice, Judge Sotomayor," Mr Obama said at the White House today.
President Obama's decision is still subject to Senate approval, however, and he called for senators to ratify his selection "as swiftly as possible".
Judge Sotomayor, 54, will replace outgoing justice David Souter, who is retiring at the age of 69.
She is seen as a like-for-like replacement for the liberal Justice Souter, and will join Ruth Bader Ginsburg as the court's only other woman.
President Obama said he had chosen Judge Sotomayor after "deep reflection and deliberation".
"While there are many qualities I admire in judges, there are a few that stand out," he continued, claiming Judge Sotomayor possessed the "rigorous intellect, mastery of the law and ability to hone in on the key issues" necessary for the role.
Taking to the podium, Puerto Rican-born Judge Sotomayor said her selection was the most "humbling honour" of her life.