Who was the first Hispanic woman appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court?

Who was the first Hispanic woman appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court?

• A. Elena Kagan
• B. Sonia Sotomayor
• C. Ruth Bader Ginsburg
• D. Sandra Day O'Connor

Answer: (B)

Identifying the first Hispanic woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court highlights a historic milestone in the court’s composition. Sonia Sotomayor achieved this when she was nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed in 2009, becoming the first Latina justice on the nation's highest court. Sotomayor grew up in the Bronx, earned a law degree from Yale Law School, and served on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit before joining the Supreme Court. Her background and extensive judicial experience informed her perspective on many decisions. The other names listed are notable for different reasons—Sandra Day O’Connor was the first woman on the Court, while Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Elena Kagan are not Hispanic and were appointed later.

Identifying the first Hispanic woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court highlights a historic milestone in the court’s composition. Sonia Sotomayor achieved this when she was nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed in 2009, becoming the first Latina justice on the nation's highest court. Sotomayor grew up in the Bronx, earned a law degree from Yale Law School, and served on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit before joining the Supreme Court. Her background and extensive judicial experience informed her perspective on many decisions. The other names listed are notable for different reasons—Sandra Day O’Connor was the first woman on the Court, while Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Elena Kagan are not Hispanic and were appointed later.