[ti:IN THE NEWS] [ar:Voice of America] [al:VOA Special English] [by:WWW.51VOA.COM] [00:00.00]51VOA.COM [00:03.67]This is IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English. [00:08.15]This week, [00:09.31]President Obama announced his choice [00:12.05]for an opening on the Supreme Court. [00:15.05]"I have decided to nominate an inspiring woman [00:18.31]who I believe will make a great justice, [00:21.58]Judge Sonia Sotomayor [00:24.07]of the great state of New York." [00:28.43]"I firmly believe in the rule of law [00:31.92]as the foundation for all of our basic rights. [00:36.28]I strive never to forget the real world [00:41.19]consequences of my decisions on individuals, [00:45.98]businesses and government." [00:48.97]Sonia Sotomayor is a federal appeals judge. [00:53.30]If confirmed, [00:54.88]she would be the first Hispanic [00:57.34]on the nation's highest court. [00:59.53]She would be the second woman [01:02.13]among the nine justices, [01:04.40]joining Ruth Bader Ginsburg. [01:07.16]And she would be only the third woman [01:10.32]ever to serve on the Supreme Court. [01:13.42]Justices have lifetime appointments. [01:17.15]The next step is to prepare for [01:20.88]Senate confirmation hearings. [01:23.38]Senators are expected to question her [01:26.95]about a comment she made at a law school [01:30.60]in two thousand five. [01:32.49]"The court of appeals is where policy is made, [01:35.05]and I know this is on tape [01:37.11]and I should never say that [01:38.31]because we don't make law.I know,I know. [01:43.11]I'm not promoting it [01:44.46]and I'm not advocating it. [01:45.78]I'm,you know ." [01:46.73] [01:50.61]Conservative critics say legislators [01:53.81]and other elected leaders are the only ones [01:57.76]who should make policy. [01:59.53]Another comment, [02:01.52]involving ethnicity, [02:03.48]has also angered conservatives. [02:06.34]Some Republicans have argued [02:09.15]that Sonia Sotomayor is too liberal [02:12.27]for the Supreme Court. [02:14.14]They say she could be an "activist judge" [02:18.57]who will let personal feelings [02:20.85]and political beliefs influence her rulings. [02:25.26]Democrats say her record shows [02:29.08]that she is a moderate. [02:30.95]In any case, [02:32.51]Democrats hold a strong majority in the Senate. [02:36.45]So,barring any unexpected problems, [02:40.49]her chances for confirmation seem strong. [02:44.32]Republicans say they will demand [02:47.84]a serious look at her many legal decisions. [02:52.12]But political observers point out [02:55.08]that Republicans may worry [02:57.59]about offending Hispanics [02:59.98]if they try to block her nomination. [03:02.76]Hispanics are now the nation's [03:05.71]largest ethnic minority, [03:08.03]and a fast growing group of voters. [03:11.37]President Obama is urging the Senate [03:15.27]to confirm Judge Sotomayor by August. [03:19.22]The new court term begins in October. [03:23.12]She would replace Justice David Souter [03:27.01]who plans to retire in June. [03:29.59]Sonia Sotomayor will be fifty-five in June. [03:34.23]She was born in New York City to parents [03:38.39]from the American commonwealth of Puerto Rico. [03:41.50]She grew up in a public housing project [03:45.30]in the South Bronx, [03:47.06]one of the poorest areas of the city. [03:50.32]She earned highest honors in history [03:54.19]from Princeton University. [03:56.44]Then she attended law school [03:58.93]at Yale University. [04:01.05]She became a federal judge in New York [04:04.53]in nineteen ninety-two. [04:06.20]The Senate approved her nomination [04:09.40]by a Republican president, [04:11.80]the first George Bush. [04:14.04]Then,six years later, [04:16.83]the Senate confirmed her appointment [04:19.62]to the appeals court by a Democrat, [04:22.28]President Bill Clinton. [04:24.22]Her newest appointment is not expected [04:28.21]to change the political balance [04:30.40]of the Supreme Court. [04:32.02]Five of the nine current justices [04:35.75]a majority are more conservative than liberal. [04:40.03]Judge Sotomayor would replace a justice [04:43.96]who has generally voted [04:46.85]with the liberal minority. [04:48.98]And that's IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English. [04:54.41]I'm Steve Ember. [04:56.34]51VOA.COM