Luis Gutierrez: Representing Illinois' Fourth District

Media Contact: Rebecca Dreilinger (202) 225-8203

(Washington DC) Today, President Barack Obama nominated Federal Court of Appeals Judge Sonia Sotomayor as the next Justice on the United States Supreme Court. In response, U.S. Congressman Luis V. Gutierrez (D-IL) issued the following statement:

“I congratulate President Obama on this historic pick of Judge Sonia Sotomayor. Judge Sotomayor would bring to the Court not only a commitment to essential constitutional principles of justice, opportunity, and equality under the law, but also a deep and personal understanding of those values, gained over a lifetime of striving for the American Dream."

"I urge my colleagues in the Senate to proceed with a fair and smooth confirmation process for Judge Sotomayor, who would be the first Supreme Court justice of Hispanic descent, the first Puerto Rican and only the third woman ever to sit on the panel."

"I am a firm believer in a country that honors hard work with fairness and opportunity — and Judge Sotomayor embodies that spirit. As the son of hardworking Puerto Rican parents; as the husband of a professional Puerto Rican woman; and as the father of two daughters witnessing history in the making: I am particularly proud of President Obama's nomination."

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