Associate JusticeSince 2009
Sonia Maria Sotomayor
The senior liberal and the Court’s most forceful dissenter — a former trial judge whose opinions foreground the real-world stakes of criminal-justice, immigration, and equal-protection cases.
Nominated ObamaConfirmed 68–31 · Aug 6, 2009Approach Pragmatism · Lived-experience realism
85%
In the majority
of 41 decided cases, this term
5
Majority opinions
authored this term
6
Dissents
this term
75%
In the majority
across 201 decisions, OT2021–OT2025
’09
On the bench since
17 years
This term · voting record
How Sotomayor has voted.
CaseAligned withRoleSide
Trump v. Slaughter
Executive power
3 dissenters
Dissent
DISSENT
Watson v. RNC
Elections
5–4 majority
Joined
MAJORITY
Louisiana v. Callais
Elections
3 dissenters
Dissent
DISSENT
Learning Resources v. Trump
Executive power
7–2 majority
Joined
MAJORITY
United States v. Hemani
2nd Amendment
3 dissenters
Dissent
DISSENT
Trump v. Barbara
Executive power
7–2 strike (est.)
Predicted
MAJORITY
Trump v. Cook
Executive power
5–4 Cook stays (est.)
Predicted
DISSENT
West Virginia v. B.P.J.
Civil rights
6–3 uphold (est.)
Predicted
DISSENT
NRSC v. FEC
1st Amendment
6–3 strike (est.)
Predicted
DISSENT
Mullin v. Al Otro Lado
Immigration
6–3 for gov’t (est.)
Predicted
DISSENT
PENDING CASES SHOW PREDICTED VOTES (EST. FROM ARGUMENT + IDEAL POINT) · DECIDED CASES SHOW THE RECORDED VOTE.
Majority opinions · OT2021–OT2025
The opinions Sotomayor wrote for the Court.
5–4
OT2025
T. M. v. University of Maryland Medical System Corporation
Decided Jun 18, 2026
9–0
OT2025
Enbridge Energy, LP v. Nessel
Decided Apr 22, 2026
9–0
OT2025
Galette v. New Jersey Transit Corp.
Decided Mar 04, 2026
9–0
OT2025
Hain Celestial Group, Inc. v. Palmquist
Decided Feb 24, 2026
5–4
OT2025
Bowe v. United States
Decided Jan 09, 2026
6–2
OT2024
Glossip v. Oklahoma
Decided Feb 25, 2025
9–0
OT2024
Republic of Hungary v. Simon
Decided Feb 21, 2025
8–0
OT2023
Truck Insurance Exchange v. Kaiser Gypsum Company, Inc.
Decided Jun 06, 2024
SHOWING THE 8 MOST RECENT OF 22 MAJORITY OPINIONS · SOURCE: OYEZ
Public favorability
A partisan split — and lots of “don’t know.”
Republicans21 / 49
Independents34 / 22
Democrats62 / 11
35% OF ALL ADULTS HAVE NO OPINION · YOUGOV / THE ECONOMIST, MAY 2026 →
All readings
FAV / UNFAV / NET · Marquette polls all adults with a “haven’t heard enough” option; YouGov polls adult citizens — levels aren’t comparable across houses, the net trend is.
Favorability over time
Holding up better than the Court.
Net favorability over time
Sep 2019May 2026
Born
Jun 25, 1954 · The Bronx, New York
Education
Yale Law
Seat
Associate Justice (succeeded David Souter)
Sworn in
Aug 8, 2009
Prior role
Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (1998–2009)
Related coverage
SCOTUSblog · 2h
The four opinions still outstanding as the term hits its final day.
NYT · 5h
Inside the birthright-citizenship argument: where each justice tipped their hand.
Reuters · 1d
Slaughter ruling hands the President at-will control of independent agencies.
AP · 1d
After Callais, three Southern states move to redraw congressional maps.
Associate Justice · since 2009
Sonia Maria Sotomayor
The senior liberal and the Court’s most forceful dissenter — a former trial judge whose opinions foreground the real-world stakes of criminal-justice, immigration, and equal-protection cases.
Solid liberalideal pt -2.8
Net favorability
+11
38% fav · 27% unfav
85%
In majority
5
Maj. opinions
6
Dissents
This term · voting record
Trump v. Slaughter
DISSENT · 3 dissenters
Watson v. RNC
JOINED · 5–4 majority
Louisiana v. Callais
DISSENT · 3 dissenters
Learning Resources v. Trump
JOINED · 7–2 majority
United States v. Hemani
DISSENT · 3 dissenters
Trump v. Barbara
PREDICTED · 7–2 strike (est.)
Trump v. Cook
PREDICTED · 5–4 Cook stays (est.)
West Virginia v. B.P.J.
PREDICTED · 6–3 uphold (est.)
NRSC v. FEC
PREDICTED · 6–3 strike (est.)
Mullin v. Al Otro Lado
PREDICTED · 6–3 for gov’t (est.)
Votes with
Kagan
93%
Jackson
92%
Kavanaugh
72%
Roberts
71%
Barrett
70%
Gorsuch
65%
Thomas
58%
Alito
57%
Majority opinions · OT2021–OT2025
5–4T. M. v. University of Maryland Medical System CorporationOT2025
9–0Enbridge Energy, LP v. NesselOT2025
9–0Galette v. New Jersey Transit Corp.OT2025
9–0Hain Celestial Group, Inc. v. PalmquistOT2025
5–4Bowe v. United StatesOT2025
6–2Glossip v. OklahomaOT2024
Favorability, by party
Republicans21 / 49
Independents34 / 22
Democrats62 / 11
35% OF ALL ADULTS HAVE NO OPINION · YOUGOV / THE ECONOMIST, MAY 2026
What the money says
SNAPSHOT JUL 1, 2026 · ¢ = PRICE OF YES
Related coverage
SCOTUSblog · 2h
The four opinions still outstanding as the term hits its final day.
NYT · 5h
Inside the birthright-citizenship argument: where each justice tipped their hand.
Reuters · 1d
Slaughter ruling hands the President at-will control of independent agencies.
AP · 1d
After Callais, three Southern states move to redraw congressional maps.