Being Justice Sotomayor

Congratulations, Justice Sotomayor!

Being a Judge II

Here is the relevant and funny as ever Jon Stewart on the Sonia Sotomayor confirmation hearings. Senator Lindsey Graham is featured here.

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Being a Bully

Senator Lindsey Graham in essence called Judge Sonia Sotomayor a bully today. While listening to his attack on her temperament, I couldn't help but to think that Senator Graham himself is a bully. I have never known male judges seeking such a distinguished position asked whether they were bullies.

The whole line of questioning from Senator Graham just seemed sexist. How many times are men labelled as difficult? Many of these guys just seem so out of touch with the era. Please excuse my ignorance, but is this a southern thing? Senator Graham of South Carolina and Senator Sessions of Alabama were way out there today. They appeared so personal and not so professional.

When Senator Graham asked Judge Sotomayor about her opinion of being called a bully, he interrupted her response saying, "If I may interject judge. They find you difficult and challenging more than your colleagues. The only reason I mention this is because it stands out." Graham mentions other negative labels. I wonder if women find her "difficult," "challenging," "excitable," "angry," and "temperamental." Who made these assessments? Men perhaps? Graham continued: "These statements about you are striking...This is pretty tough stuff that you don't see about others judges on the 2nd Circuit."



I did not like these questions that did not focus on her many years of judicial rulings, but one line spoken in a speech. The questions appeared to be sexist and demeaning. The look on Judge Sotomayor's face evokes sympathy, while Senator Graham seems clueless to his bullying. Is he not even aware that he has an audience? Everybody knows that she will be confirmed; Senator Graham himself even said so yesterday in the hearing. So, the question is, who is he performing for and I wonder if women are among these?

Being a Judge

This morning I had to do something that I absolutely hate doing: evicting a tenant for non-payment of rent. She had owed for two months and nearly over $700 dollars in a water bill. We were simply submitting a Summary Judgment as the tenant had agreed that she owned us in excess of nearly $4,000 dollars. I tried to work with the tenant, considering that she's a singel mother with two children who had lost her job. But she had refused to call us over the last two months and would not return any calls. My partner is by far less sympathetic. But we both agreed it was time.

When I have to go to court, I usually take a good book as the court is usually full of tenants, landlords and lawyers. This time the book was Works of Love by Danish philosopher, Soren Kierkegaard, one of my favorites. Although our lawyer was present, I had written in my book all the back pay in rent, including late fees, lawyer fees and court administration fees. All are in our contract and all were gone over carefully before the tenants sign the lease. I go over this thoroughly myself beforehand.

After the judge had awarded us the judgment, I noticed that she was glaring at me.

"What are you reading?"
"Kierkegaard."
"Yes, I thought so. Do you just read that stuff for fun?"
"It's interesting stuff."
"I know I studied history and psychology, even reading a bit of philosophy."
"That's great, Your Honor."
"Have you studied philosophy?"
"Yes, Your Honor."
"That's great. It's not everyday that those entering my courtroom are reading such books."
"I enjoy it. It helps me be a better person, challenging my assumptions."
"Really?"
"Yes, Your Honor, not that I'm successful all the time."
"You're an interesting lady. I'm impressed."
"I'm pretty inquisitive; that's for sure."
"I think that's clear. You have been in my courtroom before, haven't you?"
"Yes, Your Honor."
"Yes, I remember you. Have a good day."
"Thank you, Your Honor. You too."

As we left my lawyer who has appeared before this particular judge many times said, "Wow, she rarely interacts with those in her courtroom the way she had with you." Now, the judgment granted was surely by the law and I do not expect anything else should I appear before her again. But judges do use their judgment on human beings and the arguments from all sides being told to them. That's why they are called...you guessed it...judges. Getting in my car I thought about Judge Sonia Sotomayor. Many people seem to feel as if judges should leave their humanity and experience at the door upon entering the courtroom. While their decisions should be governed by the law, their humanity without a doubt influences their judgment. How can it not?

Being a Supreme Court Justice

With the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court there has been a lot of talk lately about activist judges, as if any of us ever come to a decision devoid of our own experiences, judges or not. Conservatives have become bent and and of shape about this. They insist that a justice's opinions should have no bearing on their decisions, seeking to separate men and women from the law. The law is the law they posit and there is no room for interpretation. Judges are extricated from their rulings; they become automatons. This being so, I wonder if the religious right conservatives could nominate an atheist to the court. How many votes do you think this one would get among these? Not many, you can believe that.

Being Self-Destructive

Arianna Huffington writes a provocative piece on the conservative sexist and racist attacks on President Obama's nominee, Sonia Sotomayor, to the Supreme Court.

She begins:

Listening to conservatives like Pat "She's an Affirmative Action Pick" Buchanan, Rush "He Picked the Hispanic" Limbaugh, and Tom "Latino KKK" Tancredo play the race card in attacking the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor, I've been marveling at just how self-destructive they've become.

She ends:

Here's the bottom line: Republicans know Sotomayor is going to be confirmed, so the howls of protest are all for show. It's all about fund-raising and rallying the base. But it's already so super-heated, what will be left to get worked up about by the time we get to the actual confirmation hearings?

Unless there are pubic hairs on Coke cans and secret porno rentals ("The Return of Long Dong Silver"!), it's going to be a total snooze.

Uh, yeah...