--- title: "Sonia Sotomayor | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/sonia-sotomayor" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-09" --- # Sonia Sotomayor Supreme Court of the United States · Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court ## Profile - Court: Supreme Court of the United States - State: National federal courts - Role: Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-29 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge, Supreme Court of the United States, 2009-present - Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, a position she has held since August 8, 2009, after being nominated by President Barack Obama. - Before joining the Supreme Court, she held the role of a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (1998–2009) and as a U.S. District Court judge for the Southern District of New York (1992–1998). - Judge, District Court, S.D. New York, 1992-1998 - Assistant district attorney, New York County, NY, 1979-1984 - Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit - Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York - Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of the United States - Previous roles: Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit Judge, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Assistant District Attorney in New York County Private practice attorney ### Education - Yale University — J.D. (1979) - Princeton University — B.A. (1976) ### Additional information - Private practice, New York City, 1984-1992 - Date of birth: 1954-01-01 - Yes. - Cardinal Spellman High School - Birth place: Bronx, NY ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### courtroom address Scope: courtwide Wait at the lectern until recognized, open with the court's prescribed salutation, do not introduce counsel, address the Chief Justice with the specified title, and address other Justices as Justice [name] or Your Honor, not Judge. Evidence excerpt: Others are referred to as "Justice Thomas," "Justice Kagan," or "Your Honor." Do not use the title "Judge." [Guide for Counsel in Cases to be Argued, October Term 2024](https://www.supremecourt.gov/casehand/Guide%20for%20Counsel%202024.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### argument time Scope: courtwide Argument is normally scheduled for 30 minutes, but counsel need not use all allotted time. Evidence excerpt: Your argument time is normally scheduled for 30 minutes (Rule 28.3). You need not use all your time. [Guide for Counsel in Cases to be Argued, October Term 2024](https://www.supremecourt.gov/casehand/Guide%20for%20Counsel%202024.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### time signal Scope: courtwide When the red light comes on, finish answering the pending question but do not present a summation. Evidence excerpt: When the red light comes on, counsel may finish responding to a question that is pending, but should not present a summation. [Guide for Counsel in Cases to be Argued, October Term 2024](https://www.supremecourt.gov/casehand/Guide%20for%20Counsel%202024.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### prepared script Scope: courtwide Speak clearly into the microphone, do not read from a prepared script, and do not use rapid-fire delivery to stretch argument time. Evidence excerpt: Under no circumstances should you read your argument from a prepared script. You should not attempt to enhance your argument time by a rapid fire delivery. [Guide for Counsel in Cases to be Argued, October Term 2024](https://www.supremecourt.gov/casehand/Guide%20for%20Counsel%202024.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### justice questions Scope: courtwide Never interrupt a Justice. If interrupted, stop speaking immediately, listen, and give that Justice full attention. Evidence excerpt: Never interrupt a Justice who is addressing you. Give your full time and attention to that Justice. [Guide for Counsel in Cases to be Argued, October Term 2024](https://www.supremecourt.gov/casehand/Guide%20for%20Counsel%202024.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### direct answers Scope: courtwide Answer questions directly, use yes or no when possible before explaining, and say so if you do not know the answer. Evidence excerpt: Make every effort to answer questions directly. If at all possible, say "yes" or "no," and then expand upon your answer if you wish. If you do not know the answer, say so. [Guide for Counsel in Cases to be Argued, October Term 2024](https://www.supremecourt.gov/casehand/Guide%20for%20Counsel%202024.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/biographies.aspx) - [Official roster](https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/biographies.aspx) - [Supreme Court of the United States current members](https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/biographies.aspx) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/3045/sonia-sotomayor/) - [Guide for Counsel in Cases to be Argued, October Term 2024](https://www.supremecourt.gov/casehand/Guide%20for%20Counsel%202024.pdf) - [Supreme Court of the United States judicial profile or roster](https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/biographies.aspx) - [Wikidata: Sonia Sotomayor](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11107) - [Supreme Court of the United States judicial profile or roster](https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/biographies.aspx) - [Wikidata: Sonia Sotomayor](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11107) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/sonia-sotomayor", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/sonia-sotomayor", "name": "Sonia Sotomayor | KnowJudges", "description": "Sonia Sotomayor, Supreme Court of the United States. 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