Sonia Sotomayor: President Obama's Supreme Court nominee

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  Posted by Katie B Tue May 26, 2009 11:17am PDT

  At this point I am just happy that she has experience being a Judge... I was leary of some of the other of Obama's choices on his list as at least 2 have never presided over a trial of any kind... Personally, I believe that a Supreme Court Justice needs to uphold the Constitution and not legislate from the bench (hence, the reason they are in the Judicial Branch and not the Legislative Branch of Government) as Justice is supposed to be blind... but we shall see... There have been many unexpected surprises in politics this last year or so... so I will reserve absolute judgement until more information comes out.

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  Posted by Sophie'sMom Tue May 26, 2009 11:58am PDT

  At first blush, she seems like an excellent choice, for just the reasons the President expressed. I'm very relieved another woman will finally serve. The Court has been so behind in reflecting not only society, but also the legal profession. Thoughtful first piece on the nomination. Thanks.

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  Posted by Devonia Tue May 26, 2009 12:39pm PDT

  Sonia Sotomayor -- it will be interesting to see what additional information about this lady emerges during the confirmation process. There's the bewildering teaser afloat that the judge has no financial assets - none - zip, nada. Her salary of nearly $200,000 surely would afford her some investments, some assets - why not?

  I'm uncomfortable with anyone who jokes that policy is made by the courts and certainly uncomfortable that empathy is a qualification for Supreme Court nominee. Her statement, " I don't believe we should bend the Constitution under any circumstance. It says what it says. We should do honor to it.", would be comforting if her record supported it. Unfortunately, her decision about the fireman case gives lie to her previous statement.

  As for her being a woman -- aren't we way past that? There has never been to my knowledge a quota system for Supreme court nominees. What does being a woman have to do with her qualifications or lack of them? The Constitution should be interpreted as written, not through the prism of activist ideology.

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  Posted by buddhabrown Tue May 26, 2009 1:08pm PDT

  For Devonia: How can one live life fully without empathy? I never considered that judges should not have empathy. Why is it so wrong? I have not studied the US legal system in depth beyond my US Govt classes in high school and college. I seriously question why the lack of empathy in a judge is a good thing, but perhaps you could expand on that idea so I can better understand your view point?

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  Posted by Devonia Tue May 26, 2009 1:43pm PDT

  A gentle correction please, buddhabrown: The question is not whether one can live a life with or lacking empathy but whether one can "judge by the rule of law" and whether empathy, as suggested by Obama, should be a criteria for qualification. To make "empathy" towards certain groups, beliefs, lifestyles a criteria, is to step towards a slippery slope that moves us ever farther away from a Supreme Court judicial system that rules by law and not by the whims of individual opinion. In the latter case, if the court was dominated by those who would be influenced, not by law but by empathy, soon we would not all be "equal under the law".

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  Posted by buddhabrown Tue May 26, 2009 3:13pm PDT

  Thanks Devonia, I really appreciate your explanation. I was referring to the ability to place your own self within the context of a fellow human being's situation. I can see how that would be prudent when dealing with the rule of law. Glad I am not a judge, as there is no way I can take the humanity out of it. For me, to be empathetic is to be human. Thanks for your insights, and now I know why I chose social science over law as a profession.

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  Posted by Devonia Tue May 26, 2009 5:02pm PDT

  buddhabrown: Like you, I could never be a judge either. I know my own weaknesses and I have to acknowledge that impartiality, reach as I might for it, is not my strongest trait. However, as Katie B pointed out in the first comment, "Justice is blind"; hence, Lady Justice wears a blindfold as a symbol that justice, under our US Constitution, must be meted out objectively, without fear or favor, regardless of identity, power, or weakness . The ability of a justice to "put aside their personal empathy" then, should be a primary criteria. Our justices at the Supreme Court level be selected on their proven ability to do one thing - interpret the law.

  Any deviation towards personal belief puts all of our liberties at risk, in my opinion. Ponder the oath the justices must take below. The emphasis on "without respect to persons", "equal right to the poor and the rich" , "impartially" speaks for itself.

  According to Title 28, Chapter I, Part 453 of the United States Code, each Supreme Court Justice takes the following oath:

  "I, [NAME], do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will administer justice without respect to persons, and do equal right to the poor and to the rich, and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties incumbent upon me as [TITLE] under the Constitution and laws of the United States. So help me God."

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  Posted by oohay Wed May 27, 2009 6:41am PDT

  I've read a little about her but don’t really know a lot about her ruling record, I hope she is a person of sound and reasonable mind.

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  Posted by E Wed May 27, 2009 6:47am PDT

  I think President Barack Obama deserves another 4 yrs., he has proven to be fair as much as he can when he can control the matter at hand. I hope people can understand there are some things that he can't control and he has to go back on his word on some things he had promise but he'll make it up somehow in another way. This man understands the people with real feelings in America; he understands that if we are not doing well here in America then America is not going to do well. Racism is alive and well here and he has shown that we all are human beings and we need to look beyond race in order to have peace within ourselves. Most people have thought outside of the box long ago, now I notice others are making that change and there are some that refuse because of their cold evil hearts. President Barack Obama was raise to love all people not because of their race, it is written on the wall that this man shows no difference in race and he determines to lead the colorless America. We the people have to think about who created racism and why did it get so popular here in America. In America we are people of many races, and many mix races. We are a nation that has many religions; America shouldn’t be identified as a Christian nation, because America was built by people of many different religion backgrounds and we should be identified as Americans only not by race. So people don’t know their family background so the adopt an background or they adopt a background because they are ashamed of the one they have and don’t want the world to know they has the blood of someone that has done something so evil to others but I want you to know a real good hearted American don’t care because it wasn’t you and we love you anyway. We as Americans need to be more open minded to other nation of ethnic group of people not all are bad people, so of them looks like you and me. I’m tell you America we are a nation that has BIG HEARTS and we can stomp out hate and racism in this country because by elected the President Barack Obama we have proven to the world YES WE CAN AND WE WILL DO IT AGAIN IN THE YEAR 2012. In America the only people that gotten richer was the Republicans, the poor people are poorer and now it’s our turn. God has showing the world how GREED of a man can collapse a nation and affect the world at the same time. We as the people of the world is it’s time we become in charge on our destiny, we need to keep this planet safe and join hands with other across this planet and save our home. I believe President Barack Obama has the right idea to save this planet. YES WE CAN AND WE WILL DO IT AGAIN IN THE YEAR 2012. Thank you, PEACE!

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  Posted by Katie B Wed May 27, 2009 9:47am PDT

  E... I don't know if I agree with you on the opinion that he "deserves" another four years... he hasn't even completed the 1st one... so why don't we wait and see on this...

  And I do have to say that there is racism on any side of the fence... there were racists that voted both against and for Obama... Racism doesn't come just from white people... it also comes from blacks, browns, yellows and reds too... It is racist to chose someone for a job or position for the sole reason that they are Latino or African or Asian or European or Jewish instead of their qualifications...

  I did not vote for Obama and that does not make me a racist... it makes me a realist. I looked at his qualifications, policy votes and in a word his resume, not his skin tone... those that did not look at what he believes in (beyond his speeches and prose) and only looked at his skin color and the opportunity to "become a part of history" are a much bigger racist than I ever could be... Electing Barack Obama to be President is not going to change racists hearts nor is it going to stop racism and anyone that thinks that really needs a dose of reality.

  And as far as Sotomayor is concerned... I am not liking that she has a 60% ruling reversal rate. I am not sure how accurate this is since I read it in the Washington Times and haven't seen it anywhere else yet. I want Justices that are going to uphold the Constitution as they are bound to by their oath.

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