President Barack Obama has nominated Judge Sonia Sotomayor of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to replace Justice David Souter. If she is confirmed by the Senate, it will be a historic first for the Court: the first Hispanic, and the third woman on the nation’s highest court.
From the moment on May 1 when Justice David Souter announced his plan to retire, Sotomayor, 54, was viewed as a leading contender for the spot. Judge Diane Wood of the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals appeared to take the lead last week.
