LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Judge Sonia Sotomayor upon the occasion
of her designation as recipient of the 2009 Judicial Excellence Award by
the Puerto Rican Bar Association

WHEREAS, The State of New York takes great pride in recognizing its
esteemed residents who have distinguished themselves in their community
and professions; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Judge Sonia
Sotomayor upon the occasion of her designation as recipient of the 2009
Judicial Excellence Award by the Puerto Rican Bar Association; and
WHEREAS, A Bronx native and a federal appeals court judge, Sonia Soto-
mayor will be honored with the Judicial Excellence Award at the 52nd
Anniversary Gala of The Puerto Rican Bar Association at the Hilton New
York Hotel on Thursday, May 14, 2009; and
WHEREAS, Sonia Sotomayor grew up in a housing project in the South
Bronx, just a short walk from Yankee Stadium; she was raised by her
single mother after her father died when she was nine years old; and
WHEREAS, Sonia Sotomayor graduated from Cardinal Spellman High School
in the Bronx; she later earned her B.A. degree from Princeton University
summa cum laude, and obtained her J.D. from Yale Law School in 1979,
where she served as an editor of the Yale Law Journal; and
WHEREAS, After law school, Sonia Sotomayor then served as an Assistant
District Attorney under New York County District Attorney Robert Morgen-
thau; in 1984, she entered private practice as a partner at the commer-
cial litigation firm of Pavia & Harcourt, where she specialized in
intellectual property litigation; and
WHEREAS, Before her current position as judge on the 2nd U.S. Circuit
Court of Appeals, Judge Sotomayor was a United States trial judge in the
Southern District of New York; and
WHEREAS, Judge Sotomayor's extraordinary legal career, judicial
temperament and personal leadership style have led to her prominent
mention as a leading contender to fill the United States Supreme Court
vacancy that will be left when Supreme Court Justice David Souter
retires in June of 2009; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Judge Sonia Sotomayor upon the occasion of her designation as
recipient of the 2009 Judicial Excellence Award by the Puerto Rican Bar
Association; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Judge Sonia Sotomayor.