Judging Judge Sotomayor
Nothing brings out good old American partisan politics like a new Supreme Court nominee, as we’re seeing by initial reactions from both sides of the political divide to President Obama’s nomination of Bronx native Sonia Sotomayor to the high court. Here are a few of the basic positions you’ll hear over and over again during the next few months of the confirmation fight:
Even before her selection was announced today, Republicans had Sotomayor pegged as a liberal who makes policy from the bench. From National Review Online:
And here’s a tape of comments made by Sotomayor in a panel discussion from several years ago, in which she basically acknowledges that federal appeals court judges do, in fact, make policy through their rulings. You’ll be seeing a lot of this tape in the months ahead:
But some legal experts are countering this by saying she was merely stating the obvious about what appeals courts are supposed to do in the American legal system:
Others are focusing on Sotomayor’s status as the first ever Hispanic to be nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court. This fairly even-handed piece from the Huffington Post asks if the nomination has painted Republican opponents into a corner by having them try and block a woman from an ethnic group they need to rebuild their party:
Another factor for New Yorkers, of course, is her background as a high-achiever from very modest beginnings in the South Bronx. With an old crime fighter like Manhattan D.A. Robert Morganthau (Sotomayor’s first boss out of law school) singing her praises, and a respected centrist like Mayor Bloomberg doing likewise, it might be hard for opponents to effectively paint her as squishy-headed, soft-on-crime liberal.
So there are some of the basic battle lines already drawn as the confirmation fight begins. Mull them over, and let me hear from you in comments about how you think this is going to play out, and/or how you think it SHOULD play out.
Comments: 13
Well Jim. I think I would need more information on Judge Sotomayer and the legal decisions she had made which could determine what kind of justice she might make. We also need to realize that her appointment could add a valuable voice to the cout. I do think President Obama has given this quite a bit of thought. I do think that since Judge Sotomayer has come up from some humble beginnings and that makes me think she might have a great deal of concern for the common men and women and their need for equal justice. Well I guess we will have to see how this plays out. Republicans should consider her qualifications and not vote aganist her just because of a need to engage in some sort of power play.
Judge Sototmeyer is great example to kids and teenagers who think there lives are determined on how they grew up where they live but for a woman who lived in the projects to go on to graduate from princeton and yale law it is truly motivational
SHE IS A RADICAL AND A RACIST AND THINKS SOCIETY OWES MINORITIES. WE LIVE ON A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD JUST LOOK AT THE WHITE HOUSE WE HAVE A BLACK PRESIDENT... IT DOESN'T GET ANY MORE FLATER THAN THAT...
I saw that video before.
"in which she basically acknowledges that federal appeals court judges do, in fact, make policy through their rulings."
This the common judicial problem now a day - those activist judges try to do congress's job to make laws which they have no right to do so. And don't even try to supercoat it, to try to interpret what she meant by that. It is what she meant.
If judges try to make laws, then we don't need 3 branches of gov and the check and balance anymore.
If judges follows his/her personal beliefs and render a decision based on those beliefs then the laws of the land pretty much desintegrates, which leads to anarchy.
Our society is based on laws.
Granted she is only one of the justices... if confirmed.
Today was such a special day for me, I was all smiles - my classmate was nominated to the Supreme Court! I couldn't be prouder of her if we were related. Sonia is both brilliant and kind, a wonderful combination. That is the person she was when I first met her back in our high school days in 1968, and from what I can see, these are the two qualities that President Obama saw in her, 40 years later. I am confident she will make an historic addition to the Supreme Court. Congratulations Sonia! You go, girl! Blessings and love to you and yours!
Us Bronxites are all very happy about Sonia Sotomayor's nomination. But please let me correct you guys on something. She lived in the Bronxdale Houses which are located in THE SOUNDVIEW SECTION - NOT THE SOUTH BRONX. Anything South of the Bronx River is the South Bronx. Please correct that on your broadcast tonight.
Thank you.
The nomination of a woman to the Supreme Court is a plus for the President. The nomination of a Latino woman is a plus + plus. The constant references to her humble beginnings is a plus + plus + plus. Now, let's look at the oppotunities (advantages) that she received because of her own drive and intellect, Princeton, wow. Law school, wow. Judgeship, wow, wow. Does she deserve to be on the highest court in the land, the Supreme Court, probably, but not because of the humble beginnings. Let's examine the records first, let's let Senate investigate the facts thoroughly before the appointment is rubber stamped. The media and the emotional climate of the country shouldn't dictate the outcome.
PIX's MORNING NEWS SUCKS !
WHEN WILL THIS GARBAGE BE TAKEN OFF TV
"The media and the emotional climate of the country shouldn't dictate the outcome."
The liberal medias want her to get the job (same as they want Obama to get elected), so there will be bias reports coming..
And by the way, what does her life story of struggle has to do with the job requirement?
Judge Sotomayor should not be confirmed. I urge you to look up American Solutions and American Thinker. She is not qualified at all. I'm going to back with my time,money, and network of friends any effort to vote out of office anyone in the senate that does not make a real effort to Stop this person from being confirmed.
All Latinas should be promoted to positions for which they are not qualified and take jobs away from white men.
Let's start by firing Jim Watkins and promoting Lolita Lopez to news anchor.