Vice President Biden to be sworn in early due to Sotomayor conflict Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor in Washington, Oct. 8, 2010. WASHINGTON, Jan. 19 (UPI) -- U.S. Vice President Joe Biden will be sworn in for his second term Sunday before President Barack Obama takes his oath, the White House said. Biden went to the front of the line because Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor was going out of town before the noon ceremony for Obama. The high court wouldn't say where Sotomayor would be, but the Los Angeles Times said she had an appearance at a New York City bookstore scheduled Sunday afternoon. Biden will take the oath at the Naval Observatory at 8:15 a.m. Obama's inauguration with Chief Justice John Roberts presiding takes place at noon.