Litigation

Sotomayor is Candid in Chicago

By Peter Hardin

Justice Sonia Sotomayor, addressing an audience at the University of Chicago Law School, talked about the role of public opinion in judicial decision making, her displeasure with celebrity status and a criticism of Chief Justice John Roberts Jr.

Her views were reported by a New York Times article about the event.

On public opinion in writing decisions, she said the Supreme Court does not take public opinion into account — but it rarely is out of step with the public. “On the vast majority of cases,” she added, “I bet we’re right with them.”

Regarding Justice Roberts’ approach to race justice cases, she cited a 2007 opinion in which he wrote that ?the way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.? Justice Sotomayor commented, “I don?t borrow Chief Justice Roberts?s description of what colorblindness is.? She added, ?Our society is too complex to use that kind of analysis.?

About celebrity status, Justice Sotomayor said, “I do miss being a little anonymous.?

Full post as published by The Gavel on February 01, 2011 (boomark / email).