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Judge Sotomayor's Legal Opinions

By Jeralyn

Update: CNN factsheet on Judge Sotomayor.

Thanks to ScotusBlog for its analysis of Judge Sonia Sotomayor's legal opinions in civil cases and cases in which at least one judge dissented. There are some criminal cases in the "dissent" category.

• Decisions in which at least one other judge dissented
• Civil Opinions, Part IV
• Civil Opinions, Part III
• Civil Opinions, Part II
• Civil Opinions, Part I

As for the arguments that will be made against her appointment, ScotusBlog lists and analyzes four. [More...] One:

Opponents’ first claim – likely stated obliquely and only on background – will be that Judge Sotomayor is not smart enough for the job.

Two:

The second claim – and this one will be front and center – will be the classic resort to ideology: that Judge Sotomayor is a liberal ideologue and “judicial activist.”

Three:

The third claim – related to the second – will be that Judge Sotomayor is unprincipled or dismissive of positions with which she disagrees.

Four:

...Critics will characterize her as gruff and impersonable, relying on excerpts from oral arguments and anonymous criticisms in the Almanac of the Federal Judiciary.

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