Obama names first Hispanic to high court

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By Christina Bellantoni and Jon Ward

President Obama made history Tuesday by announcing his plan to nominate the first Hispanic to the U.S. Supreme Court, saying appeals court Judge Sonia Sotomayor has an "inspiring" life story similar to his own and can employ an empathetic "common touch" on the bench.

While Judge Sotomayor, 54, presented herself as an ordinary woman with humble roots, the White House boasted that her 17-year jurist credentials give her more experience than Supreme Court nominees chosen over the past century, and aides insisted their vetting process had been exhaustive.

"Even as she has accomplished so much in her life, she has never forgotten where she began, never lost touch with the community that supported her," Mr. Obama said, adding that his pick will bring "the knowledge and experience acquired over a course of a brilliant legal career [and] the wisdom accumulated from an inspiring life's journey."

The terms that the president used to describe Judge Sotomayor's upbringing in the projects of the South Bronx in New York match the "empathy" criteria that he laid out when first considering a nominee to succeed retiring Justice David H. Souter.

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With her family beaming in the audience, Judge Sotomayor said that her "wealth of experiences" have guided her as a jurist as she attempts to understand the perspectives of all litigants in the courtroom and her colleagues on the bench.

"I strive never to forget the real-world consequences of my decisions on individuals, businesses and government," said Judge Sotomayor, currently serving on the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in New York.

Republicans kept relatively quiet Tuesday, promising to offer her a fair hearing, but conservative interest groups were readying for battle with a nominee whom they blasted as a liberal activist whose speeches and rulings make her questionable for the court.

"This nomination raises serious questions about the issue of legislating from the bench," said Jay Sekulow, chief counsel of the American Center for Law and Justice.

Liberal activists were just as eager for a fight. MoveOn.org promised to mobilize its 5 million members to urge a quick Senate confirmation.