Sotomayor pledges impartial justice if confirmed
Win McNamee/AP
Celina Sotomayor, mother of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor (left) watches as Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., administers the oath to the nominee.
Published: July 13, 2009
Updated: July 13, 2009
WASHINGTON — Her confirmation all but assured, Sonia Sotomayor pledged Monday to serve the “larger interest of impartial justice” rather than any narrower cause if she becomes the first Hispanic on the U.S. Supreme Court.
“My personal and professional experiences help me to listen and understand, with the law always commanding the result in every case,“ Sotomayor told senators at a televised confirmation hearing.
The remarks about judicial philosophy were her first since President Barack Obama nominated the veteran of 17 years on the federal bench. They appeared aimed at Republicans who have questioned her commitment to impartiality in light of a 2001 remark that experience as a “wise Latina” might give her an advantage over white males.
The 55-year-old appeals court judge spoke after several hours of speechmaking in which Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee praised her as a Hispanic pioneer well qualified for the high court and Republicans questioned her impartiality as well as Obama’s views in nominating her, his first pick for the high court.
Despite Republican misgivings, Sen. Lindsey Graham told Sotomayor, “Unless you have a complete meltdown, you’re going to get confirmed.“
“And I don’t think you will” have a meltdown, he added quickly as Sotomayor sat listening, her face in a half-smile.
Soitomayor has no serious roadblock to become the third woman to serve on the high court. Democrats control the Judiciary panel by a 12 to 7 margin over Republicans and have the necessary floor votes to elevate Sotomayor.
In the nearly seven weeks since Obama nominated her to replace Justice David Souter, critics have labored without much success to exploit weaknesses in her record. But Republicans have had to temper their remarks to avoid offending Hispanic voters, the fastest-growing segment of the electorate.
If confirmed, Sotomayor is unlikely to change the court’s ideological makeup since she would replace Souter, part of the court’s liberal wing. Under former President George W. Bush, the court has tended to be more conservative in its rulings in recent years.
In her remarks, Sotomayor said, “The progression of my life has been uniquely American,“ that of a child of Puerto Rican parents who moved to New York during World War II. “I want to make one special note of thanks to my mom,“ she said. “I am here today because of her aspirations and sacrifices for my brother Juan and me.“
“Mom, I love that we are sharing this together,“ said Sotomayor, whose father died when she was 9. She turned as she spoke, whispering a thank-you to her mother, seated one row behind her in the packed hearing room.
Sotomayor, who spoke for only about five minutes, returns on Tuesday to begin hours of questioning from committee members who will cast the first votes on her appointment.
The role of racial politics in the day’s proceedings became clear within minutes after Sen. Patrick Leahy, the committee chairman, rapped the opening gavel.
“She’s been a judge for all Americans. She’ll be a justice for all Americans,“ said the Democrat.
“Let no one demean this extraordinary woman,“ Leahy said in a warning to committee Republicans to tread lightly in the days ahead.
Sen. Jeff Sessions, the top Republican, vowed a “respectful tone” and “maybe some disagreements” when lawmakers begin questioning Sotomayor on Tuesday.
Moments later, he took aim at Sotomayor’s 2001 statement that her standing as a “wise Latina woman” would sometimes allow her to reach a better decision than a white male.
“I will not vote for, and no senator should vote for an individual nominated by any president who believes it is acceptable for a judge to allow their own personal background, gender, prejudices or sympathies to sway their decision,“ he said.
“Call it empathy, call it prejudice or call it sympathy, but whatever it is, it’s not law,“ Sessions said. “In truth, it’s more akin to politics, and politics has no place in the courtroom.“
That was a reference to Obama’s declaration — made before he named Sotomayor — that he wanted a person of empathy on the high court.
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, a Democrat, made a spirited rebuttal later. “The empathy that President Obama saw in you has a constitutionally proper place” in the judiciary,“ he said.
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Reader Reactions
Randy:
As to ‘We don’t use “white community“’, is to assign an exclusive identity to “We” in relation to others.
I’ve never been asked by anyone of any ethnicity to refer to them in the hyphenated fashion. No person, I’ve referred to as a “black dude”, for example, has ever corrected me. However, I frequently hear white people (and I am white) saying ‘We don’t use “white community“’, and complaining about all the “Politically Correct…African-American…” and such being forced on them. –I don’t get it…It all seems like kvetching about a red herring to me. I do come across hyphenated ethnic appellations in printed media on a regular basis and sometimes I use them my self—I am not offended nor do I feel expected to use the nomenclature; sometimes it just sounds polite…
“So I’m keen on understanding what you fully mean when you refer to the exclusiveness associated with the evangelical Christian. Are you referring to the “one way to Heaven” belief?”
More like “if you don’t go this way you will burn in h*ell for trillions of years…” but there is much more to it than that. Religious fanaticism in free fall has been the downfall of more than one civilization over the millennia.
In our current state of affairs, I think, that extremists of the Muslim world would like us to believe the world is embroiled in a cosmic battle between Islam & Christianity; and at the same time American Christian Fundamentalists are stirring up the same twisted end time battle scenario while our troops are standing in the breach.
I don’t have time to elaborate:
See my posted response to the Letter to the Editor: Despite Boomers’ Beliefs, God Does the Judging Of July 16th
Greta:
That’s interesting. I’m familiar with the story concerning Dolorous Stroke from the age of Arthur.
Hlaford-there is a commentor that writes periodically who uses the name
Dolorous Stroke!
An interesting thought.
I read once upon a time that all of the Holy Books, the Bible and the Koran and the Torah were written with an eye to being deliberately vague.
The holy men wanted to instigate endless different intrepretations and as a result endless discussions.
A means to keep the written word always in the public discourse.
Although they could not have forseen all of the modern distractions.
‘Although “axe” as in ask was a proper old English word. Though not spelled like that.‘
Hlaford: Amen to that!
Said Tom: “I don’t see why the likes o’ thee
Without axin’ leave should go makin’ free
With the shank or the shin o’ my father’s kin;
So hand the old bone over!
Rover! Trover!
Though dead he be, it belongs to he;
So hand the old bone over!“
—J.R.R. Tolkien
Studebaker:
You don’t think my position is scripturally sound? Well, men and women have been arguing scripture for nearly 2000 years. I am not an evangelical christian. I have read the bible but I do not take every word literally.
As for the phrase “the best possible thing”, we are not going to agree on that one.
Well, off to work. Have a good day.
Studebaker - Please help me understand what you mean by this - a couple of examples would be helpful:
To claim that ‘We don’t use “white community“’, is to assign an exclusive identity to “We” in relation to others. This culture of exclusiveness is predominant in some Christian Evangelical traditions and has led to an “us versus them” world view and a sense of being persecuted by the “other.”
In my opinion, there’s a difference between behavior and the politics of ethnicity (which exists much to my chagrin). In the story of the good Samaritan you cited, there was one correct answer, not several - on it’s face, that’s pretty exclusive. So I’m keen on understanding what you fully mean when you refer to the exclusiveness associated with the evangelical Christian. Are you referring to the “one way to Heaven” belief?
I found this link and thought it offered a great illustration of the government vs the frustrated taxpayer.
‘The phrase “the best possible thing”, can work. Jesus Christ said “Love one another as I have loved you.“ So you could say, the best possible thing is, as JC said, “Love one another as I have loved you.“
Now, if this nation is to truly be color blind, we need to stop using “black community”, “hispanic community”, “native americans”, etc. We don’t use “white community.“ We are all Americans, sub-divided into our respective states. When we get to that point and to the point of judging people by the content of their character then we are the land of the free and finally brave enough to face each other as real Americans. (anyone for a group song!)’—Posted by ( hlaford )
Hlaford: I disagree; and I do not think your position is scripturally sound.
Jesus did not discount peoples’ ethnic heritage whether they be Samaritan, a Syrio-Phonecian woman, or Roman Centurion. Consider The Parable of the Good Samaritan. Luke 10:25-37:
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,“ he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?“
“What is written in the Law?“ he replied. “How do you read it?“
He answered: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.‘“
“You have answered correctly,“ Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.“
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?“
In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,‘ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.‘
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?“
The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.“ Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.“
***
To claim that ‘We don’t use “white community“’, is to assign an exclusive identity to “We” in relation to others. This culture of exclusiveness is predominant in some Christian Evangelical traditions and has led to an “us versus them” world view and a sense of being persecuted by the “other.” BTW, I do not wish to paint all Evangelicals with the same brush, but I am convinced that Evangelical stance of exclusiveness vis-à-vis any other is one of the greatest threats to the Liberty & security of the United States of America. And only Evangelical Christians can make the difference by examining their conscience and repenting.
I recommend:
Southern Churches in Crisis Revisited. By Samuel Hill. Tuscaloosa, Alabama: The University of Alabama Press, 1999.
http://are.as.wvu.edu/samuel_hill.htm
PS: I have only read the 1966 version, which is out of print & impossible to find.
Well, I guess I’m going to have to watch the Wizard of Oz now. Thanks Studebaker!! I love that Horse of a Different Color. And I guess I’ll have some naughty dreams about Glenda the good Witch (and maybe a muchkin or two!!)
So until tomorrow, keep a song in your heart.
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