Women who inspire… Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina Supreme Court Justice.

On August 8th, 2009, Sonia Sotomayor became the first Hispanic justice of the U.S. Supreme Court and the third woman to serve the Court.

Who is Sonia Sotomayor?

Sonia came from a modest family who moved to the United States from Puerto Rico in search of better opportunities. She grew up in the Bronx, from an early age she was very curious and passionate about learning. When her mother came home with a complete set of the Encyclopedia Britannica, Sonia read them all. Along with her love of learning and with the support of her loving family, she graduated from HS as Valedictorian and then attended Princeton University where she graduated with honors.

She pursued a career in Law in NYC, Manhattan where she quickly made a name for herself. She volunteered at different agencies linked to education and the economy, which immediately caught the attention of Senators Ted Kennedy and Daniel Moynihan. By excelling in her work on intellectual property rights and copyright litigation, on the recommendation of Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, the George H. W. Bush administration nominated Sotomayor to the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on November 27, 1991 where she was the youngest to hold the position.

Proving that there are no limits to what one can accomplish, President Bill Clinton nominated her to the second circuit of judges, then reached the Senate. She simultaneously became a professor at New York University. In 2009, President Barack Obama nominated her to the Supreme Court, making her the first Latina woman to hold that position.

Sonia is a woman to admire not only for her passion, drive and dedication to the law but for her persistence in achieving not only her own dreams but also the ones of her family’s. Remember, they moved to the United States in search of better opportunities, something they would go on to achieve.

We would like to celebrate Sonia Sotomayor, #Womenwhoinspire during her birthday month, she is one of the most influential Latinas in the United States and one of the most relevant judicial voices in the country.

If you are interested in learning more about Sonia or would like to share her story with the little ones in your lives, here are some of the many books that have been written about her. The story brings a message of hope for children, adolescents and adults. You will find stories of value, that inspire you to be better and persist in the face of all adversity.

My Beloved World

With a candor and intimacy never before assumed by a sitting judge, Sonia chronicles her life’s journey from Bronx projects to federal court in an inspiring celebration of her extraordinary determination and the power to believe in oneself.

Sonia Sotomayor: The judge who grew up in the Bronx

For ages 6 to 9, it is a bilingual illustrated book that tells the story of Justice Sotomayor’s childhood in the Bronx, her stay at Princeton and her confirmation on the Supreme Court, paying special attention to the unwavering support she always received from her mother throughout her life. A set of beautiful illustrations capture the warmth and joy of Sotomayor’s family and history.