Maine Groups Cheer Sotomayor Nomination

Maine Fair and Independent Federal Courts Coalition Lauds Historic Nomination

(Augusta) Today in a news release, organizations representing Maine people celebrated the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court.

“In selecting Judge Sotomayor to be his nominee to the highest court, President Obama has chosen someone who is superbly qualified and has outstanding legal credentials,” said Sarah Standiford, Executive Director of the Maine Women’s Lobby. “Moreover, Judge Sotomayor comes to the position with an unparalleled level of experience – three decades of experience at all levels of the law.”

Members of the Maine’s Fair and Independent Federal Courts Coalition lauded the historic nomination-and the wealth of experience that Judge Sotomayor would bring as a woman and as the nation’s first Latina nominee. Sonia Sotomayor grew up in the South Bronx, the daughter of parents from Puerto Rico. Despite the challenges her family faced, Judge Sotomayor attended Princeton and Yale Law School, served as an Assistant District Attorney, worked as a corporate litigator in a New York law firm, and went on to become the first Latina appointed to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

Over a career that spans three decades, Judge Sotomayor has worked at almost every level of the judicial system and brings an understanding of how the law affects the lives of every-day Americans.  

Said Kim Moody, Executive Director of the Disability Rights Coalition, “Maine’s Senators will have a critical role to play in the confirmation of this Supreme Court Justice. The confirmation process will allow the Senate and the American people the opportunity to learn even more about this very impressive nominee, her commitment to the rule of law, and the rights and liberties of all Americans.”

Maine‘s Fair and Independent Federal Courts Coalition was founded in 2004 to monitor appointments to the federal bench. Included among the 30+ members are Centro Latino, Disability Rights Center, Environmental Health Strategy Center, Family Planning Association of Maine, Maine AFL-CIO, Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence, Maine People’s Alliance, Maine Women’s Lobby, NAACP Portland Branch, National Council of Jewish Women Southern Maine Section, Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, and Sierra Club Maine Chapter.

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