Sonia Sotomayor Receives Yale Law Women Alumnae Achievement Award
The Yale Law Women (YLW) presented its Alumnae Achievement Award to Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor ’79 on October 26, 2014. Stephanie Krent ’16, YLW Executive Board Chair, and Julia Shu ’16, YLW Alumnae Relations Chair, both spoke at the presentation of the award.
Krent described Sotomayor’s impressive career, beginning with her tenure at Yale Law School: “During your time here, you were never afraid to ‘speak up,’ whether in class, or in publishing a note on possible effects of Puerto Rican statehood, or when filing a formal complaint against discriminatory law firm hiring practices.” Shu spoke of how closely women at Yale relate to and admire Sotomayor. “Through your opinions—which have been thought provoking and compelling, regardless of ideology—we hear a strong woman who has navigated the legal world on her own terms. You legitimized compassion and empathy as signs of strength in an environment not known for its accessibility,” Shu said.
Yale Law Women Alumnae Achievement Awards have also been given to Hillary Rodham Clinton ’73 (in the 2013–14 school year) and Chief Justice Margaret Marshall ’76 (in the 2004–05 school year).
