Sonia Sotomayor and Her Impact on Schools
How Sotomayor is Likely to Rule on Educational Issues
May 29, 2009
President Barack Obama has nominated Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court of the land. What are some decisions made in the past that will give observers a clue of how she may vote in the future?
Sotomayor Background
From current information released by the White House, Americans have learned about Soromayor’s past and the odds against her. She was born into a Puerto Rican family in a public housing project in the South Bronx. Her parents moved to New York City during World War II. Her mother served in the Women’s Auxiliary Corps during the war. Her father had a third grade education and died when Sotomayor was only nine years old. Her mother, a nurse, was left to care for her and a younger brother, Juan. In spite of obstacles, Sotomayor chose education as her pathway to success.
Sotomayor had a passion for reading books and threw herself into Nancy Drew books to divert her attention away from a life filled with struggles. While a child she was diagnosed with diabetes which challenged her even more. She worked hard in school and graduated as valedictorian from Blessed Sacrament and at Cardinal Spellman High School in New York. She went on to win a scholarship to Princeton and currently serves on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit, based in New York City. Sotomayor is divorced and has no children. [1]
Ricci v. DeStefano
In 2008 Judge Sotomayor caught national attention when she and two other judges rejected the lawsuit brought against the city of New Haven, Connecticut by 18 firefighters. The firefighters passed an exam mandated for promotion within the fire department. Since the 17 white and 1 Hispanic firefighters scored high and the black firefighters scored low on the exam, the city of New Haven scrapped the exam. The judges ruled against the 18 firefighters and many argue that this is a case of reverse discrimination. [2]
Frank G. v. Board of Education of Hyde Park
Sotomayor also ruled on the judge panel in the case of a disabled child and private school tuition. The panel ruled that parents can get reimbursed for private school tuition for a child with disabilities even if the child has never received such services from his home school district. [2]
N. G. ex rel. S.C. v. Connecticut
This ruling had to do with a strip search of a student. Sotomayor and the panel of judges upheld the legality of certain strip searches of teenagers, though it said others were unreasonable. Sotomayor agreed and disagreed with parts of this ruling. Sotomayor wrote, "Our case law consistently has recognized the severely intrusive nature of strip searches and has placed strict limits on their use. The concerns animating our prior rulings in this area should be only heightened when the privacy interests of emotionally troubled children are at stake." [2]
Bartlett v. New York State Board of Law Examiners
This ruling involved a student with disabilities. Sotomayor ruled that a law school graduate with dyslexia was entitled to extra time and other accommodations in taking the state bar exam. [2]
Pundits in the news media have raised concerns about the large number of Catholics on the Supreme Court and Sotomayor’s potentially reverse discrimination decisions. Some have sharply criticized her for not being a team player and a judicial bully. Still others are not impressed with her intellectual abilities. [3]
The hearings should soon begin on the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor. More information about her past rulings will surface at that time.
Related article: Minorities Lag Behind Whites in School
[1] Whitehouse.gov, The Press Office, Background on Judge Sonia Sotomayor, May 26, 2009.
[2] Robelen, Erik W. "Sotomayor’s Record on Education Scrutinized," Education Week, May 27, 2009.
[3] Rosen, Jeffrey. "The Case Against Sotomayor," The New Republic, May 4, 2009.
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