Rep. Andrews praises President and Senate following Justice Sotomayor's confirmation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, the Senate voted 68-31 to confirm Judge Sonia Sotomayor as America’s 111th Supreme Court Justice and first Hispanic on the court.

Justice Sotomayor, who was born to immigrant parents and raised in a housing project in the Bronx, rose from humble beginnings. Sotomayor credits her mother for teaching her the value of hard work and education, and for providing her with the fundamentals needed to succeed despite her background. She studied at Princeton University, graduating summa cum laude, then attended Yale Law School where she served as the editor of the Yale Law Journal.

“I commend President Obama and the Senate in selecting Judge Sonia Sotomayor as the next Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. Justice Sotomayor's confirmation marks yet another landmark in our nation's history to come out of this presidency,” Congressman Andrews said following the Senate’s vote. “As the bench's first Latina, Sotomayor's confirmation is an inspiration to all Americans and she has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that she has the qualifications and character needed to serve on our nation's highest court.”

President Obama stated that "core American ideals -- justice, equality and opportunity -- are the very ideals that have made Judge Sotomayor's own uniquely American journey possible. This is a wonderful day for Judge Sotomayor and her family, but I also think it's a wonderful day for America.”

Following law school, Justice Sotomayor went on to practice as a prosecutor and corporate lawyer. She was appointed by President George H.W. Bush to serve on the District Court for the Southern District of New York and she was later elevated by President Clinton to the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, a post where she served for 11 years. Sotomayor is only the third woman ever to sit on the United States Supreme Court and she will replace Justice Souter as the only Justice with experience as a trial judge.

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