U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor<br/>An Inspirational Visit<br/>

An Inspirational Visit

On September 9, United States Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor came to Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center in Central Islip, NY to receive the Bruce K. Gould Book Award for her critically praised memoir, "My Beloved World."

Justice Sotomayor was greeted by Patricia Salkin, Dean and Professor of Law at the Law Center, and was joined by Dr. Alan Kadish, President and CEO of Touro College and University System, and Dean Emeritus Howard A. Glickstein.

She accepted the award for her book --  which recounts her life from a Bronx housing project to the federal bench --  in front of more than 700 students, alumni, faculty, staff and the public assembled in an auditorium and also in nearby overflow rooms.  After the award presentation, Justice Sotomayor delivered comments and answered questions from students.

Earlier in the day, Justice Sotomayor -- the first Hispanic and the third woman to serve on the Supreme Court -- met with a total of more than 150 students in three small-group sessions. She also visited Touro Law’s Disaster Relief Clinic, meeting with students and attorneys to discuss the impact of their work on the people of Long Island.

“Meeting Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor was fantastic,” said Touro Law student Catherine Romano.  “She was so approachable and down to earth which makes her all the more inspiring. I am a member of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, as is Justice Sotomayor who inspires us all to achieve greatness.”

As a jurist of Hispanic origin, Justice Sotomayor’s visit held special meaning for the Law Center, where about 38 percent of the incoming class is minority. At 17 percent, Hispanics comprise the largest proportion of the class.

“Justice Sotomayor’s life and career is a story that inspires those who are drawn to the legal profession,” said Dean Salkin.  “Her presence at Touro Law Center resonates in a special way, because our school has an impressive and long-time commitment to diversity and service to the underprivileged.”

Now in its 21st year, the Bruce K. Gould Book Award is presented annually to the author of an outstanding publication related to the law, legal profession or legal system.  Previous winners include Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Senator Christopher Dodd and Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz.