DES MOINES – Iowa Democratic Party Chair Michael Kiernan issued the following statement after President Obama announced his selection of Sonia Sotomayor as his nominee to the United States Supreme Court. When confirmed, Sotomayor will be the third woman to serve and the Court’s first Hispanic justice.

“Nominating a justice to the Supreme Court of the United States is one of a President’s most serious and consequential responsibilities. President Obama pledged to select a nominee with a rigorous intellect, a mastery of the law and a commitment to impartial justice. He promised to select someone who has a broader perspective on how the world works and has a common sense understanding of how the law affects the realities of everyday life.

“Today President Obama delivered on his promise with the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor. Sotomayor’s stirring life story and outstanding career – at nearly every level of our judicial system – makes her qualified to serve as America’s next Supreme Court Justice. Throughout her career on the bench, she has been lauded as a fearless jurist, with an independent mind and a deep commitment to the rule of law and our constitution. I commend President Obama on his outstanding choice and congratulate Judge Sotomayor on her nomination.”