Blogamole › Sonia Sotomayor

By Michael Lopez

It's never too early to learn about the American legal system and this week on Sesame Street, young viewers got a taste of it thanks to Sonia Sotomayor. The Latina Supreme Court judge made a very memorable appearance on the show and even ruled on case involving Goldilocks and Baby Bear.

In a very cute segment, Sotomayor stumbles upon Baby Bear, a colorful Muppet who seemed to be in a bit of legal trouble. Baby broke the chair of Goldilocks and, as Sonia emphasized, it was now his responsibility to have it replaced.

But Sotomayor didn't just offer her advice, she actually threw on her trademark black robe and presided over the case!

"I always wear these robes when I hear a case,” she jokingly told the audience.

We actually think Sonia did a great job on the Street. Not only did she teach little ones about fairness and consideration, she showed off her very sharp sense of humor.

Did you catch Sonia's appearance on the Street? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Education, Muppets, Sesame Street, Sonia Sotomayor, Supreme Court, Television

By Michael Lopez

Believe it or not, over 18 million Americans are currently living with diabetes. And one of them happens to be the highest-ranking Latina in the legal system. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor recently spoke up about her condition and offered encouragement to those diagnosed with the disease.

"It's a disease you have to deal with, but you can," Sotomayor said this week at a function for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Sonia was diagnosed back when she was just seven years old and, as her accomplishments clearly show, it never got in the way of her dreams. She went to describe how she injects herself with insulin up to six times per day, often before sitting down to the Supreme Court bench.

Several diabetic children were also part of the discussion and clearly found encouragement from Sotomayor’s words. When asked by a young girl about the positives of the disease, Sonia was quick to answer.

"[It] taught me discipline," she said proudly.

And for the record, Sotomayor isn't the only famous face living with the disease. Halle Berry, Tommy Lee, and Nick Jonas are just a few of the many celebrities who have been diagnosed with diabetes.

Do you know anyone living with diabetes? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Agentes De Cambio, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Diabetes, Health, Sonia Sotomayor

By Michael Lopez

It's that time of the year again. The time when students across the country don those caps and gowns and prepare for their "next big journey." But before the 2011 grads step out into the real world, they'll get one last bit of wisdom from their university's commencement speaker. And this year, several colleges are booking some A-list talent to step up to the podium.

As expected, most of the top schools get their speeches from world dignitaries and trusted scholars. But one huge political leader is taking an entirely different route. President Barack Obama gave his commencement speeches to graduating students at Miami-Dade College and Tennessee's Booker T. Washington High School. Centered in one of the poorest districts in the country, the latter campus won the honor to hear Obama after participating in a Race to the Top competition.

Ex-Commander-In-Chief Bill Clinton spoke to a slightly larger crowd for his NYU address. Talking to a packed house at New York's Yankee Stadium, the former President drew massive cheers when he stepped onto the field in his purple gown.

Adding some Latin flair to the commencement world, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor made an impassioned speech at New Jersey's Ramapo College. Dressed in a black gown, the 56-year-old trailblazer spoke for nearly 20 minutes about the importance of following your dreams.

"I have lived all my dreams and, more incredibly, have far surpassed them," she said. "Dreams do not come true simply because of luck or innate talent. They only come true if you work hard to make them come true."

Interestingly, Sotomayor had some personal reasons for speaking at Ramapo. Her godson, Tommy Butler Jr., was part of the graduating class, having earned his master's degree in nursing.

Another Latino leader, Mexican President Felipe Calderon, is set to say some very inspirational words to the parting students at Stanford University. A graduate from Harvard, Calderon's speech is expected to draw a flurry of activity. So much so, that the faculty is planning to stream it live.

But don't think it's just the political elite that are getting the Class of 2011 worked up. Several celebs are offering their unique perspectives to the new graduates as well. Comedienne Amy Poehler will be speaking at Harvard on Wednesday and earlier in the week, Tom Hanks drew big cheers for his address at Yale.

And all of you Team Coco fans may want to check YouTube for bootlegs on June 12. That’s the day when comedian Conan O’Brien takes the mic at the Dartmouth graduation and we’re sure it will be very quotable.

Which celeb would you most like to hear a commencement speech from? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Amy Poehler, Barack Obama, bill clinton, Celebrities, Class of 2011, College, Conan O'Brien, Education, Felipe Calderon, Graduation, Sonia Sotomayor, Tom Hanks

By Michael Lopez

Looking back, July 2009 proved to be a difficult time for Sonia Sotomayor. Before getting appointed to her historic post, America’s fist Latina Supreme Court Justice had to deal with some pretty invasive questions.  Sonia recently spoke up about the difficulties of two-week confirmation process.

"There were private questions I was offended by,” Sonia said during a panel at the Northwestern University School of Law. “I was convinced they were not asking those questions of the male applicants."

It does seem rather odd for senators to inquire about the dating habits of a female Supreme Court Justice nominee when they don't ask the same questions of male nominees. But that’s exactly what happened, and Sonia believed it to be a double standard.

"I don't like people talking about my private life," Sotomayor said. "[I have] many single male colleagues who are judges who date often, bring dates to court affairs and nobody ever talks about them. I knew if I did the same thing, my morals would be questioned. So I'm very careful about whom I date and how public it is."

Speaking to law students and professors, Sonia explained the challenges and benefits of sitting on the Supreme Court. She also offered career advice for upcoming graduates and tips on how one can attract attention from state and federal judges.

But the biggest laugh of the day came when Sotomayor described just how much “information” the Senate Judiciary Committee was hoping to find.

"You know, and I don't mean to be graphic, but one day after I'd been questioned endlessly, for weeks at a time, I was so frustrated by the minutiae of what I was being asked about and said to a friend, 'I think they already know the color of my underwear!”

Are you inspired by Justice Sotomayor? Sound off in the comments or MTV3.

Tags Cultura, Education, Politics, Sonia Sotomayor, Supreme Court

By Michael Lopez

Ok, so only a handful of Latinas made Forbes' 100 Most Powerful Women List, but it’s still quite an accomplishment and (hopefully) very inspiring for future female minority leaders (especially since Michelle Obama ranked #1). Sonia Sotomayor, Today Show host Meredith Vieira, and Giselle Bundchen were just a few of the ladies of Latin origin that made the list.

Image: AFP/Getty Images

Ranked at #19, Sotomayor has made quite an impact in the past year. Since being elected to the Supreme Court back in 2009, she’s already chimed in on several important verdicts, including Miranda Rights cases and First Amendment issues regarding campaign financing. Coincidentally, the newest female Supreme Court Judge, Elena Kagan, made an impact on the list too, ranking #25.

Portuguese businesswoman, Maria Ramos, was the next highest Latina, coming in at #32. As CEO of South Africa’s Absa Group Banks, she had worked her way up from chief executive of the state-owned rail, pipe, and ports agency, to the director of the South African National Treasury. She’s self-made, highly educated, and VERY wealthy.

The next Latina to make a dent is Today Show host Meredith Vieira, ranked at #40. Also of Portuguese descent, Meredith’s built up quite a respectable media career. She’ got nine Emmys from her CBS News days, has a huge following from her work on The View, and also currently hosts Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.

Other top ranking Latinas include Argentinian president, Cristina Fernandez (Ranked #68), Costa Rican president, Laura Chinchilla (Ranked #83), and Brazilian model Giselle Bundchen, who scored #72 for the $25 million she raked in from endorsements and her designer clothing line.

Image: Getty Images

And how about the ladies who made the Top 5? Well we already mentioned #1 Michelle Obama, which is pretty obvious, being the First Lady and all. She was followed by the CEO of Kraft Foods, Irene Rosenfeld, Oprah Winfrey, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and our own Secretary Of State, Hillary Clinton.

Source: [Forbes]

Who are your biggest female role models? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3!

Tags Christina Fernandez, Cultura, Forbes, Gisele Bündchen, Laura Chinchilla, Maria Ramos, Meredith Vieira, Michelle Obama, Sonia Sotomayor

By Michael Lopez

Who knew that in between hearing pivotal cases on civil rights, corporate monopolies, and national security, Sonia Sotomayor and her fellow justices of the Supreme Court would be debating “Grand Theft Auto”? That’s exactly what will be happening November 2 in the California dispute over banning violent video games.

photo via Getty Images

It’s no secret that video game violence has been a hotly debated topic for years. Many contend that gun blasting, carjacking, and fistfights in the virtual world could lead kids to want to do the same in their real lives.

On the flip side, many major game companies argue that violent behavior in children can be traced more to their upbringing than what’s in their Xbox. They’ve contested that there’s very little evidence to prove titles like "Call Of Duty” and “Mafia II” contribute to negative behavior in kids.

photo via Gamespot

Either way, the fight’s now going to Washington D.C. thanks to new law signed by Cali governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. His initiative would put a ban on the sale of video games deemed “violent” to any child under the age of 18 (with stiff fines for businesses that don’t comply).

He also wants to require violent video games to be packaged differently with heavy labels that would block the box cover art. Manufacturers challenged this law as “unconstitutional” and now it's headed straight to Sotomayor.

Now we’re not sure if she’s dabbled in any of the “Halo” or “Modern Warfare” games (she seems more like a “Tetris” person), but Sonia and her bench have a very big decision on their hands. One that could impact the entire video game industry. In the meantime, we’ll play neutral in the debate…and stick to our family-friendly Juanes “Rock Band” game instead.

Source: [Gamespot]

Do you think violent video games should be kept away from children? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3!

Tags Arnold Schwarzenegger, Grand Theft Auto, Politics, Sonia Sotomayor, Supreme Court, video games, Xbox

By Simone Hilliard

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor can now add author to her already impressive resume.

Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group announced Monday (June 12) that it will publish Sotomayor's account of her life, described as a "coming-of-age memoir by an American daughter of Puerto Rican immigrants."

What can we expect to find in Justice Sotomayor's first memoir? Knopf says Sotomayor will not only write about growing up in the South Bronx and her relationship with her mother (and the loss of her father when she was nine years old), she'll also share details about her journey to Princeton University (on a full scholarship) and later to Yale Law School.

We can also look forward to learning more about a life in the law, culminating with her appointment to the federal bench.

The book does not have a publication date or title yet, but Sonny Mehta, chairman and editor in chief of the Knopf Publishing, released the following statement on the upcoming project:

“Sonia Sotomayor has lived a remarkable life and her achievements will prove an inspiration to readers around the world. Hers is a triumph of the Latino experience in America.”

We couldn't agree more!

Are you excited for Sotomayor's memoirs? Let us know below, or @MTV3!

Tags book, Cultura, latin, memoir, release, Sonia Sotomayor

These are the people that you just couldn't get enough of este año. From Alex Rodriguez finally getting su MLB World Series Championship anillo to Sotomayor being the first Latina Supreme Court Justice to los mejores de la música, estos hotshots tuvieron un gran año en el 2009. 

Click here for the full list of people that stood out in music, telenovelas, politics y deportes this year.

Dinos que piensas of our 2009 Hotshots. Did we forget anyone? Do you agree with our picks? 

Tags alex Rodriguez, Best of 2009, Beyonce, Latin Music, Shakira, Sonia Sotomayor

Last night, the White House became La Casa Blanca y nuestro Presidente brought out even more of his Latino side than he has already... At least that was the running joke from George Lopez, Eva Longoria Parker, and Jimmy Smits that started off the "Fiesta Latina" showcase last night.

The event not only hosted amazing Latino figures (including the first Hispanic to sit on the Supreme Court, Justice Sonia Sotomayor), it was really a celebration of our culture y nuestra música. Obama spoke about the global appeal of our ritmo Latino, and how all cultures can tune into it. Some of those bringing down the house were Gloria Estefan, José Feliciano, and Los Premios nominees for Best MTV Tr3s Artist, Aventura, among others. But our favorite performance came from Thalía who asked President Obama to dance with her and called him "Machooo!" Love it!  Watch the clip of Obama dancing with Thalía here!

The grand finale had all the celebs on stage together, dancing to Gloria Estefan's "Mi Tierra." A perfect end to an amazing night. Stay tuned to MTV News for exclusive coverage.

Click after the jump to check out some celeb photos for this event, including some of Aventura! Read more...

Tags Aventura, Eva Longoria Parker, George Lopez, Gloria Estefan, Jennifer Lopez, Jimmy Smits, Los Lobos, Marc Anthony, MTV NEws, President Barack Obama, Sheila E, Sonia Sotomayor, Thalía

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama came out last Wednesday to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at the CHCI 32nd Annual Awards Gala in Washington DC, an annual kickoff event that recognizes the achievements of Latinos en nuestro país.  Over 2,000 guests joined President Obama in celebrating Latino culture, including Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, John Leguizamo and Miss Puerto Rico to name a few.  El orgullo Latino was certainly soaring high!

President Obama's speech highlighted the success of some of today's most prominent Latinos (including Marc Anthony who won this year's CHCI Lifetime Achievement Award), and also touched upon his plan to help solve the school dropout crisis (sadly, Latinos have the highest dropout rate in the country), and pressing social issues like the economy, health care reform, and immigration. He gave a special shout out to Justice Sotomayor and said his proudest moment as President was when she became elected as the Supreme Court Justice of the United States!

Politics are no fun without some risas, so President Obama made sure to throw in a joke after New York Rep. Nydia Velazquez gushed about Marc Anthony.  El Presidente declared that Nydia must have a crush on Marc, and warned JLo to watch out porque apparently, she's not the only one who's got her eye on the legendary salsero.  Cuidado with your man, JLo!  Listen to Obama's chiste below!

Obama Tells JLo to "Watch Out"

Listen to more exclusive clips from Obama's Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Gala speech after the jump!

Read more...

Tags CHCI 32nd Annual Awards Gala, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, Hispanic Heritage Month, J.LO, Jennifer Lopez, John Leguizamo, Marc Anthony, Michelle Obama, Nydia Velasquez, Politics, President Barack Obama, Sonia Sotomayor