Statement by U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis on President Obamas nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to U.S. Supreme Court

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement on President Obama's nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court of the United States:

"I applaud President Obama's choice to nominate Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the United States Supreme Court. Today's announcement demonstrates the president's commitment to bring greater diversity of thought, perspective and experience to the nation's legal system. The daughter of working-class Puerto Rican parents, Judge Sotomayor grew up in public housing reading Nancy Drew books, which sparked her interest in the law profession.

"Driven by her mother's belief in the power of education and her own unrelenting work ethic, Sotomayor excelled in school, winning a scholarship to Princeton University, where she graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. She then entered Yale Law School, where she served as an editor of the Yale Law Journal.

"She embodies the characteristics that President Obama has said he is looking for – a qualified nominee with legal and real-world experience, as well as an appreciation for the impact of court decisions on everyday life. Her journey in life has truly been extraordinary and should serve as an inspiration to all Americans. I trust that her nomination will move as swiftly as possible and she will be seated as the first Hispanic to the highest court in our nation."

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