As president of the Ohio State Bar Association, I offer my congratulations to Judge Sonia Sotomayor who today was confirmed as the 111th justice, the third woman and the first Hispanic member of the United States Supreme Court.

Sonia Sotomayor is an extremely qualified jurist who is well-suited to serve as a justice on the nation’s highest court. I am confident that she will execute the duties of her office professionally, and that her 17 years of experience as a distinguished jurist will serve to further the administration of justice. 

I am also pleased that Ohio Senators Brown and Voinovich supported Justice Sotomayor’s confirmation. This demonstrates that at least in Ohio bipartisan support can be attained when well-qualified candidates are presented for consideration. 

This is an historic day for America. Today’s Senate confirmation marks progress in our nation’s quest for diversity and equality. It is important that our judiciary at every level reflect the population that it serves. The Senate’s action continues our proud heritage of selecting excellent jurists to serve on the nation’s highest court. 

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To authenticate this statement, please contact Ken Brown, OSBA Director of Public & Media Relations, 800-282-6556 (toll free), 614-487-4426 (office), or 614/746-2457 (mobile).