Barack Obama and the Highest Court in the Land

President Obama this morning nominated Sonia Sotomayor to replace David Souter on the US Supreme Court. The daughter of Puerto Rican parents with a total of 17 years' experience on the federal bench was nominated to the US District Court by President George H.W. Bush, and promoted to the Federal Court of Appeals by Bill Clinton. Speaking of Sotomayor, the President observed that "she would bring more experience on the bench, and more varied experience on the bench, than anyone currently serving on the United States Supreme Court had when they were appointed."