Supreme Court Nominee Sotomayor Co-Taught Federal Appellate Externship

Media contact: Nancy Goldfarb 212-854-1584 [email protected]

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New York, July 13, 2009 – Confirmation hearings began today for the nomination of U.S. Circuit Judge Sonia Sotomayor, a Lecturer-in-Law at Columbia Law School, to become the next Associate Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.

 

Since 2000, Sotomayor has co-taught a course at the Law School called “Appellate Advocacy.” Part of a Law School externship, a select group of students get the opportunity to work in the chambers of a Second Circuit judge on legal research, analysis, and writing, under Sotomayor’s supervision. They also participate in seminar classes and discussions with judges and experienced appellate attorneys regarding federal jurisdiction and appellate law and practice.
 

The syllabus for Sotomayor’s most recent course can be found here.

Over the years, the course has garnered praise from students, several of whom called it their “best experience” at the Law School. One student said “Judge Sotomayor “really seems to enjoy teaching this class—and mentoring young lawyers generally—and it shows in her enthusiasm and preparation.”

 

Lecturers-in-law are members of Columbia Law School's adjunct faculty.

 

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