Sonia Sotomayor Supreme Court Nomination

• Date Started: June 1, 2009
• Status: Inactive

Share your thoughts and questions about Sotomayor.We're watching the Sotomayor nomination closely - Are you?

Religious liberty: it’s fundamental, longstanding, and closely tied to the history of our nation. It’s guaranteed in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, a document that we hold dear and are committed to defending.With the retirement of Justice David Souter, the Supreme Court is losing a champion of religious liberty. Read the Church & State article written about his retirement. In his place, we need a justice who will strongly uphold the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment. Will Judge Sonia Sotomayor be the justice we need?

The stakes couldn’t be higher. Just two years ago, the Supreme Court decided Hein v. Freedom From Religion Foundation, a case that greatly limited the ability of taxpayers to challenge Establishment Clause violations carried out by the Executive Branch and its agencies. Recent cases have also dealt with religious displays on public property, and future cases could address a range of church-state issues. Will Judge Sotomayor prevent future limitations on our First Freedom?

All eyes are on President Obama’s nominee, Judge Sonia Sotomayor, an experienced judge with a compelling personal story. But where will she stand on church-state separation? Her judicial record is somewhat limited. The staff at Americans United has been working hard to learn about Sotomayor’s church-state stance and advocate for greater attention to this issue. From intense legal analysis, advocacy with members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and coordination with allied groups and coalitions, we are dedicated to representing a strong separationist voice throughout the confirmation process.

Where do you think Sotomayor will stand on church-state separation? What issues do you think will be most important to learn about? What question would YOU ask of Sotomayor if given the chance? We want to hear from you. Let us know how we can best carry YOUR voice to the confirmation process here in DC.