Justice Sonia Sotomayor is the subject of much scrutiny this week after she took a leading role in the Supreme Court's arguments on Arizona's immigration crackdown.

If upheld, Arizona's law, S.B. 1070, would set a precedent giving states more authority in the investigation and prosecution of illegal immigrants. The legislation is being challenged by the Obama administration and immigrants' advocates across the country.

On Wednesday, many were surprised by the Supreme Court Justices' comments, which indicated that they may uphold a key portion of the bill: a requirement that local law enforcement check the immigration status of suspicious individuals.

Solicitor General Donald Verrilli, arguing on behalf of the Obama administration, had suggested that this requirement could lead to undue harassment. But most of the justices did not agree with his reasoning. You can see it's not selling very well, said Sotomayor to Verrilli on Wednesday.

This comes as a surprise--especially from Sotomayor, the court's first Hispanic member, who was generally expected to opine in favor of immigrants' rights.

Still, support for some provisions of the law does not translate into general approval of S.B. 1070. The court could uphold the provision requiring a document check, but throw out the part making it a crime for immigrants to be without immigration documents.

This was reflected in Sotomayor's pointed questions for attorney Paul Clement, who represented Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer and was defending S.B. 1070. Sotomayor pointed to the fact that some immigrants have legitimate reasons not be registered with the federal government, due to some naturalization policies that require privacy.

What's going to happen now is that if there is no statement by the federal agency of legality, the person is arrested, and now we're going to have federal resources spent on trying to figure out whether they have that, whether they are exempted for this reason, whether the failure to carry was accidental or not, she said in response to Clement's arguments.

The Supreme Court is expected to make a decision this summer.

Sotomayor's nuanced statements on the case are prompting a renewed interest in her personal history. As the United States' first Hispanic Supreme Court Justice, Sotomayor may have special insights into the divisive issue of immigrants' rights in America. These photos outline her history, from her childhood experiences through her rise to the highest court in the land.

Born in the Bronx
Sotomayor grew up in the Bronx borough of New York City. Her parents had migrated from Puerto Rico during World War II. White House
An Early Education
Sonia Sotomayor’s family always promoted the value of education. Her father was a factory worker who did not speak English; he passed away when Sonia was 9 years old. White House
Ready for the Big Leagues
Sonia Sotomayor in a cap and gown for her eighth grade graduation. White House
Ivy League Superstar
Sonia Sotomayor graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University; this is her 1976 yearbook photo. She went on to study law at Yale, where she was the editor of the law journal. White House
Onto the Second Circuit
In 1997, Bill Clinton nominated Sotomayor to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Here she is with her godson at a signing ceremony in 1998. White House
Runs in the Family
Sonia Sotomayor stands with her mother, Celina Sotomayor, who raised Sonia and her brother by working six days a week after her husband passed away. White House
Rubbing Shoulders
In 2009, Sotomayor was nominated to the Supreme Court by President Barack Obama. Here she meets with him and Vice President Joe Biden in the East Room of the White House. White House
Funny Business
Sonia Sotomayor has said that she was inspired to work in the field of law after watching the television series “Perry Mason.” Here, she laughs after Senator Al Franken asks her about the show during her Supreme Court confirmation hearings in 2009. Reuters
Taking the Oath
U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor is sworn-in to testify during her U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearings on Capitol Hill in Washington July 13, 2009. Reuters
The Big Nine
The justices of the U.S. Supreme Court gather for a group portrait in the East Conference Room at the Supreme Court Building in Washington, October 8, 2010. Reuters
Court Arizona Supreme court Immigration Law