Barack Obama appointed two justices to the U.S. Supreme Court. Sonia Sotomayor joined the Court in 2009 as its first Hispanic justice, and Elena Kagan, the former solicitor general, joined in 2010.
Both nominees were confirmed by the Senate and continue to serve on the Court.
A Third Nomination
After Justice Antonin Scalia died in February 2016, Obama nominated Judge Merrick Garland. The Republican controlled Senate declined to hold hearings, saying the next president should fill the seat.
Did You Know
Garland later served as attorney general under President Biden from 2021 to 2025.
Learn More
For primary sources, explore the Obama White House archives maintained by the National Archives, the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, and presidential history collections at your local library. Reading accounts from supporters and critics alike gives the fullest picture of any presidency.
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