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Sonia Sotomayor

Sonia Sotomayor

Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States

Appears in 4 stories

Born: June 25, 1954 (age 71 years), The Bronx, New York, NY
Spouse: Kevin Noonan (m. 1976–1983)
Parents: Celina Báez and Juan Sotomayor
Education: Yale Law School (1976–1979), Princeton University (1976), and Cardinal Spellman High School (1972)
Siblings: Juan Sotomayor

Notable Quotes

“You’re asking us to overturn a case that has been around for nearly 100 years.” — Sotomayor to Solicitor General Sauer during oral argument.

She has warned that dismantling for‑cause protections could lead to “unchecked presidential power” over agencies designed to be nonpartisan.

"The majority, without any meaningful explanation, unnecessarily limits secondary liability even though this Court's precedents have left open the possibility that other common-law theories, such as aiding and abetting, could apply in the copyright context." — Concurrence in judgment

Stories

Trump’s unitary-executive showdown with independent agencies

Rule Changes

Liberal dissenter in key removal‑power orders and arguments

In 2025, President Donald Trump challenged the 1935 Humphrey's Executor precedent by firing and removing independent agency officials before their terms expired.

Updated 6 days ago

Supreme Court rules ISPs not liable for subscribers' copyright infringement

Rule Changes

Concurred in result but criticized majority reasoning

For more than a decade, major record labels have tried to make internet service providers pay for their subscribers' music piracy. On March 25, 2026, the Supreme Court shut that door unanimously. Justice Clarence Thomas, writing for a 9-0 court, held that a company providing internet service cannot be held liable as a copyright infringer simply because it knows some customers will use that service to download music illegally.

Updated Mar 25

Louisiana's $745 million coastal verdict hangs on WWII contracts

Rule Changes

Questioning industry arguments in oral arguments

A Louisiana jury ordered Chevron to pay $745 million in April 2025 for wrecking coastal wetlands through decades of oil drilling. Now the Supreme Court will decide if that verdict stands—or if Chevron can escape to federal court by claiming it was acting under federal orders when it refined aviation fuel during World War II. The catch: the lawsuit concerns oil production, not refining, and much of the damage happened decades after the war ended.

Updated Jan 14

Supreme Court opens prison gates wider for federal inmates

Rule Changes

Authored majority opinion in Bowe v. United States

The Supreme Court just handed federal prisoners a major win, ruling 5-4 that they can challenge their convictions repeatedly—something most courts have blocked for decades. Michael Bowe, serving 24 years for armed robbery, asked to revisit his case based on new legal precedent. The Eleventh Circuit said no. On January 9, 2026, the Supreme Court said yes, declaring that a key provision of the 1996 anti-terrorism law applies only to state prisoners, not federal inmates.

Updated Jan 11