Breaking News: President Reportedly Picks Sotomayor for Supreme Court
Sources are reporting that President Obama has selected federal appeals court judge Sonia Sotomayor for the Supreme Court. If confirmed, Sotomayor would be the first Hispanic in the Court’s history.
Given the Democratic majority, Sotomayor is expected to be confirmed. She is described as having a bit of a “bipartisan pedigree.” She was originally appointed as a judge by President George H.W. Bush and then appointed to the appeals court by President Clinton.
What does this mean for employers? Some business advocates were critical of Sotomayor’s ruling last year in a discrimination case brought by white firefighters against the city of New Haven, Connecticut. Sotomayor ruled in favor of the city, allowing it to throw out the results of a promotion test because not enough minority employees scored high enough to be considered. Interestingly, that case is now pending before the Court.
In another notable decision, Sotomayor ruled in favor of players over owners in the baseball strike that resulted in the cancellation of the World Series in 1995.
Most experts don’t see a big change coming. Sotomayor is replacing retired Justice David Souter, who typically sided with the more left-leaning side of the Court.
Sotomayor’s nomination is the first by a Democratic President in 15 years. More could be coming soon. Justice John Paul Stevens is 89 years old and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg — the only other female on the Court — is being treated for pancreatic cancer.
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