A Judge’s View of Judging Is on the Record

[bytor2112]

“I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn’t lived that life,” said Judge Sotomayor, who is now considered to be near the top of President Obama’s list of potential Supreme Court nominees.

“Whether born from experience or inherent physiological or cultural differences,” she said, for jurists who are women and nonwhite, “our gender and national origins may and will make a difference in our judging.”

Would you be okay with if someone had said:I would hope that a wise Anglo man with the richness of his experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a Latino male that hasn't lived that life. Read New York Times article here

[Dravin]

I don't have a problem with different and that such diversity can be a good thing, that a non-white female judge will by nature give better judgments though is highly subjective. For a liberal a liberal leaning judge who is lily white man is more likely to give what they feel are better judgments than a coal black die hard conservative woman.

I think its a case of, Somebody like me is more likely to give judgments I agree with because they're like me, and because they are judgments I agree with then they are obviously better then the ones I don't. Ergo, somebody like me will give better judgments.

[jadams_4040]

Would you be okay with if someone had said:I would hope that a wise Anglo man with the richness of his experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a Latino male that hasn't lived that life. Read New York Times article here

sounds very nit picky to me; how would yu feel if she was conservative?:)

[Hemidakota]

At this point in our role of the courts, they should not be picked for life but for no more than eight year term.

[Islander]

That is the hypocrisy of the double standard. I am so sick of the political correctness in this country. We have now abandoned any reservations about the perception of political pandering. It HAD to be a woman and a LATINO to spice up the court. What a pile of garbage.

[bytor2112]

sounds very nit picky to me; how would yu feel if she was conservative?:)

Sounds racist to me. To answer your question, if she were conservative, I would feel the same way....racist comment and her history smacks of judicial activism.

[Hemidakota]

Now, does sound the last days of the Nephites who also had courts filled with corruptible judges of the land?

[LittleWyvern]

That is the hypocrisy of the double standard. I am so sick of the political correctness in this country. We have now abandoned any reservations about the perception of political pandering. It HAD to be a woman and a LATINO to spice up the court. What a pile of garbage.

I don't think it's as simple as saying "this is an affirmative action pick." Sotomayor has great credentials as was the most experienced out of any of those considered to be the hopefuls. She can stand on her own experience just fine, we don't need to throw gender and race in there to prop her up.

[Islander]

I don't think it's as simple as saying "this is an affirmative action pick." Sotomayor has great credentials as was the most experienced out of any of those considered to be the hopefuls. She can stand on her own experience just fine, we don't need to throw gender and race in there to prop her up.

That is simply not true. There are judges with more experience, better credential and less vociferous about their political leanings. The list was very short and made of politically colored candidates. Out of 100 judges or so assigned to the 13 circuits it is a certainty that there are many better qualified than her. The selection criteria tainted the process from the start. They wanted a woman and a Hispanic all the better, period.

[DigitalShadow]

As a technically "Latino" male, I will say that your ethnicity doesn't necessarily have anything to do with your cultural experiences. I'm half Mexican, speak maybe 10 words of Spanish (most of which you can find on the menu of Taco Bell), and have never felt discriminated against in the slightest. While I do think that cultural diversity is probably a good thing in the supreme court, I don't think ethnicity is necessarily related and furthermore I think that flaunting your ethnicity to make yourself seem more apt for a position is ridiculous and counterproductive to eliminating the silly racial boundaries that exist today.

With that said, it could also be the case that she has the wisdom to be a supreme court judge regardless of her occasional stupid comments (we all make them sometimes) and it is ridiculous to judge her entirely on a few statements. As a minority, and a liberal I will say that I do not approve of that particular statement though and it does not instill confidence.

[Moksha]

sounds very nit picky to me; how would you feel if she was conservative?:)

That it is nobody's business that she used a flamethrower to take down those craven Moose or unintentionally sought to build a bridge to nowhere.

[Moksha]

Now, does sound the last days of the Nephites who also had courts filled with corruptible judges of the land?

1. Heck no, this is 2009 AD.

2. Are you badmouthing the Utah Supreme Court?