“I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of herexperiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion [as ajudge] than a white male who hasn’t lived that life.” — Judge SoniaSotomayor, in her Judge Mario G. Olmos Law and Cultural DiversityLecture at the University of California (Berkeley) School of Law in 2001
Courtesy of our friends at Verum Serum,who have plenty more to say about Sonia Sotomayor. Not only do we haveSotomayor essentially admitting that she sees lawmaking as the purviewof courts, but a speech given in 2001 makes Sotomayor sound like thekind of identity-politics hack that most people saw in Lani Guinierwhen her appointment in the Clinton administration went down to defeat.
First, the video:(below)
“Um, all of the legal defense funds out there, um,they’re looking for people out there with court of appeals experience,because court of appeals is where policy is made. And I know, I knowthis is on tape and I should never say that because we don’t make law,I know. Um, um — [laughter] — I know. I’m not promoting it, I’m notadvocating it, and, I’m … you know. [laughter]”
If she’s that erudite in front of the Senate Judiciary Committeewhen answering this question, the Republicans won’t have to push hardto bounce Sotomayor out of the Supreme Court. She knew she’doverreached and couldn’t even explain herself in front of a friendlyaudience, who realized quite well that her backpedaling was entirelyself-serving and incoherent.
[snip]
Sotomayor has more interest in outcomes than in the law.