Academic

Sotomayor's Balanced Record

By firstamendmentblogger

Check out Scotusblog for a quick and handy overview of Judge Sotomayor's opinions.  Loads of good reading here, and more of a balanced record than her opponents are likely to acknowledge.

Here are a few notable First Amendment cases:

• Center for Reproductive Law and Policy v. Bush, 304 F.3d 183 (2d Cir., 2002) (rejecting First Amendment challenge to 'Mexico City Policy' denying funds to foreign organizations that support abortion);

• Kraham v. Lippman, 478 F.3d 502 (2d Cir. 2007) (rule prohibiting political party officials from receiving a court appointment does not violate freedom of association);

• Pappas v. Giuliani, 290 F.3d 143 (2d Cir. 2002) (dissenting from award of summary judgment to NYPD following termination of desk officer who engaged in racially inflammatory speech);

• Ford v.  McGinnis, 352 F.3d 382 (2d Cir. 2003) (finding First Amendment violation in prison's decision to deny holiday meal to inmate);

• Duamutef v. Hollins, 297 F.3d 108 (2d Cir. 2002) (First Amendment not violated by 30 day "mail watch" of inmate previously involved in prison disturbance).

-Kathleen A. Bergin

Full post as published by The Faculty Lounge on May 26, 2009 (boomark / email).