Law Students

Justice Sotomayor

By Andrea

Let the old dudes with the talking points insist that being moved by biography proves we don?t care about intellect and that we should avert our eyes from inspiration based on identity. Today I saw a biracial president nominate a Puerto Rican woman to the Supreme Court, and if I hadn?t been sitting in my office watching on my computer screen when she started thanking her single mom for being her rock, I would have started sniffling. And forget about having a role model for my daughter for the moment, *I* was inspired today. Both Obama and Sotomayor have elements of their biographies which are quite a lot like mine, and yes, it does mean something to someone like me to see someone like her up there. Don?t bother telling me and that crybaby Colin Powell to not take these kind of events to heart.

And for the rest of it: Smart, tough woman and she?ll get confirmed, regardless of what drama ensues. The ?wise Latina woman? quote: Kinda dumb. She?s just going to have to apologize for it and move on. The ?appeals court is where we make policy? quote: She says she doesn?t endorse that in the next breath and it was at a panel on clerking for district vs. appeals courts, so I think it?s a pretty weak shot. The firefighters case: Read the case, that?s all I have to say. It?s not about whether she hates white firemen, and thus, loves 9/11, as one right-wing press release already insisted. She was one of a group of judges who thought the district court didn't screw up enough to reverse. Eh. I always look forward to confirmation hearings, because I am a nerd, but these will be especially fun. She?s got a reputation as a ?hot bench,? so I?m hoping she?s going to fire right back if things get heated.

Full post as published by Peanut Butter Burrito on May 26, 2009 (boomark / email).