Judge Sotomayor's Confirmation to Supreme Court is Historic Moment for People with Disabilities

Washington, D.C., August 6, 2009- The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law applauds the United States Senate for confirming Judge Sonia Sotomayor - a jurist with a strong understanding of the civil rights of people with disabilities. In a 68 to 31 vote the Senate today approved Sotomayor to become an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, marking the first time a justice with extensive experience in deciding cases under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) will serve on the Court.

"Judge Sotomayor's confirmation promises a brighter future for people with disabilities," said Robert Bernstein, Ph.D., executive director of the Bazelon Center. "For years people with disabilities have looked for a champion on the Supreme Court, someone who understands the importance of disability rights laws to the people they were intended to protect.  We think Judge Sotomayor may be that champion."  

"Never before have we had a justice with so much experience interpreting laws like the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act," added Jennifer Mathis, deputy legal director at the Bazelon Center. "Judge Sotomayor's careful, thorough approach to deciding disability rights cases demonstrates her respect for Congress's intent that these laws provide strong protections for people with disabilities."
 
After her nomination, the Bazelon Center performed an in-depth review of Judge Sotomayor's disability rights opinions. According to Lewis Bossing, senior staff attorney at the Bazelon Center, who conducted the survey, "Judge Sotomayor's extensive record, including her careful application of the law to the facts in dozens of disability rights cases, demonstrates a profound understanding of the many barriers people with disabilities face in our society - and of the appropriate role of the courts in helping remove those barriers."

The Bazelon Center also coordinated an unprecedented coalition of national, state, and local disability advocacy groups that came together to support Judge Sotomayor's nomination. Said Bossing, "It was easy to come together to support this nomination.  Judge Sotomayor's sterling judicial record, and her impressive life experience - including her experience as a person with insulin-treated diabetes - make her a leader that people with disabilities can get excited about."

For more information on Judge Sotomayor and the Bazelon Center's work on disability issues regarding judicial nominations, visit: www.bazelon.org/issues/disabilityrights/judicialnominees/Sotomayor6--09.htm

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Media Contact:
Emily McKee, Director of Communications, emilym @ bazelon.org, 202.467.5730 x120