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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| Obama chooses Supreme Court judge | Obama chooses Supreme Court judge |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| US President Barack Obama has nominated Sonia Sotomayor to serve on the country's Supreme Court. | US President Barack Obama has nominated Sonia Sotomayor to serve on the country's Supreme Court. |
| Ms Sotomayor, 54, who has now to be approved by a Senate vote, would be the first Hispanic to take the position. | Ms Sotomayor, 54, who has now to be approved by a Senate vote, would be the first Hispanic to take the position. |
| She would replace Justice David Souter, who announced his retirement from the top US court earlier this month. | She would replace Justice David Souter, who announced his retirement from the top US court earlier this month. |
| Mr Obama said he had chosen Ms Sotomayor after an "exhaustive" process, and paid tribute to her as an "inspiring woman". | Mr Obama said he had chosen Ms Sotomayor after an "exhaustive" process, and paid tribute to her as an "inspiring woman". |
| He said she would bring a "depth of experience and a breadth of perspective" to the role. | He said she would bring a "depth of experience and a breadth of perspective" to the role. |
| 'No rubber stamp' | 'No rubber stamp' |
| In an emotional acceptance speech, Ms Sotomayor said her heart was "bursting with gratitude". | In an emotional acceptance speech, Ms Sotomayor said her heart was "bursting with gratitude". |
| "I am an ordinary person blessed with extraordinary opportunities and experiences - today is one of those experiences," she said. | "I am an ordinary person blessed with extraordinary opportunities and experiences - today is one of those experiences," she said. |
| RISE OF SONIA SOTOMAYOR 1954 Born in South Bronx to Puerto Rican parentsFather died when she was aged nine and her mother raised her1979 Graduates from Yale and serves as an Assistant District Attorney in New York County1984 Moves into private practice specialising in intellectual property1991 George Bush Snr chooses her as a district judge1997 Bill Clinton nominates her to the circuit court Profile: Sonia Sotomayor | |
| If approved by the Senate, Ms Sotomayor would join Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as the second woman on the current Supreme Court. | If approved by the Senate, Ms Sotomayor would join Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as the second woman on the current Supreme Court. |
| The BBC's Richard Lister, in Washington, says it appears likely she will be confirmed by the Senate - but only after some tough questioning during the confirmation process. | |
| Conservative activists have already challenged comments she made a few years ago that a judge should not dismiss their own gender or ethnicity in deciding cases, our correspondent says. | |
| Mitch McConnell, leader of the Republicans in the chamber, said his colleagues would treat Ms Sotomayor fairly, but stressed that the Senate should not be a "rubber stamp". | Mitch McConnell, leader of the Republicans in the chamber, said his colleagues would treat Ms Sotomayor fairly, but stressed that the Senate should not be a "rubber stamp". |
| "We will thoroughly examine her record to ensure she understands that the role of a jurist in our democracy is to apply the law even-handedly, despite their own feelings or personal or political preferences," he said. | "We will thoroughly examine her record to ensure she understands that the role of a jurist in our democracy is to apply the law even-handedly, despite their own feelings or personal or political preferences," he said. |
| White House officials told the Associated Press that Ms Sotomayor would bring more judicial experience to the Supreme Court than any other justice confirmed in the past 70 years. | White House officials told the Associated Press that Ms Sotomayor would bring more judicial experience to the Supreme Court than any other justice confirmed in the past 70 years. |
| Bronx background | Bronx background |
| Mr Obama had stressed the need to appoint a justice who had life experience as well as legal capabilities. | Mr Obama had stressed the need to appoint a justice who had life experience as well as legal capabilities. |
| Ms Sotomayor was raised on a housing estate in the Bronx - in one of New York City's most deprived areas. | Ms Sotomayor was raised on a housing estate in the Bronx - in one of New York City's most deprived areas. |
| She is said to have been inspired by the Perry Mason TV series to become a judge, and was educated at both Princeton and Yale. | She is said to have been inspired by the Perry Mason TV series to become a judge, and was educated at both Princeton and Yale. |
| She has been nominated to serve as a judge by both Republican and Democrat presidents. | She has been nominated to serve as a judge by both Republican and Democrat presidents. |
| In 1991, George H W Bush named her a district judge and his successor in the White House, Bill Clinton, nominated her to the circuit court in 1997. | In 1991, George H W Bush named her a district judge and his successor in the White House, Bill Clinton, nominated her to the circuit court in 1997. |
| The Supreme Court is the highest court in the US, and has the authority to strike down any state or federal law it deems unconstitutional. | The Supreme Court is the highest court in the US, and has the authority to strike down any state or federal law it deems unconstitutional. |
| Each of the nine Supreme Court justices is nominated to the post for life. | Each of the nine Supreme Court justices is nominated to the post for life. |
| Of the incumbents, four are regarded as liberal, four as conservative and one is seen as unaligned. | Of the incumbents, four are regarded as liberal, four as conservative and one is seen as unaligned. |
| If appointed, Ms Sotomayor is expected to be on the liberal wing - leaving the political balance unchanged as Mr Souter is also a liberal. | If appointed, Ms Sotomayor is expected to be on the liberal wing - leaving the political balance unchanged as Mr Souter is also a liberal. |
| What do you think of President Obama's choice for the Supreme Court? Do you think Ms Sotomayor will be approved by a Senate vote? Will she be a popular choice? Send us your comments using the form below. | What do you think of President Obama's choice for the Supreme Court? Do you think Ms Sotomayor will be approved by a Senate vote? Will she be a popular choice? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |