Since I have difficulty defining merit and what merit alone means - and in any context, whether it's judicial or otherwise - I accept that different experiences in and of itself, bring merit to the system. Sonia Sotomayor More Quotes by Sonia Sotomayor More Quotes From Sonia Sotomayor This wealth of experiences, personal and professional, have helped me appreciate the variety of perspectives that present themselves in every case that I hear. Sonia Sotomayor wealth appreciate perspective No matter how liberal I am, I'm still outraged by crimes of violence. Regardless of whether I can sympathize with the causes that lead these individuals to do these crimes, the effects are outrageous. Sonia Sotomayor causes violence matter All of the legal defense funds out there, they're looking for people out there with court of appeals experience, because court of appeals is where policy is made. And I know, I know this is on tape and I should never say that because we don't make law, I know. I know. Sonia Sotomayor defense law people Being a justice. If you love law the way I do... you're given the job of a lifetime... you're permitted to address the most important legal questions of the country, and sometimes the world. And in doing so, you make a difference in people's lives. Sonia Sotomayor law jobs country I barely saw my mother, and the mom I saw was often angry and unhappy. The mother I grew up with is not the mother I know now. It's not the mother she became after my father died, and that's been the greatest prize of my life. Sonia Sotomayor mom mother father I had no need to apologize that the look-wider, search-more affirmative action that Princeton and Yale practiced had opened doors for me. That was its purpose: to create the conditions whereby students from disadvantaged backgrounds could be brought to the starting line of a race many were unaware was even being run. Sonia Sotomayor race yale running I have had positive experiences with cameras. When I have been asked to join experiments using cameras in the courtroom, I have participated; I have volunteered. Sonia Sotomayor courtroom positive-experiences cameras I have spent my years since Princeton, while at law school and in my various professional jobs, not feeling completely a part of the worlds I inhabit. I am always looking over my shoulder wondering if I measure up. Sonia Sotomayor jobs years school I have ventured to write more intimately about my personal life than is customary for a member of the Supreme Court, and with that candor comes a measure of vulnerability. Sonia Sotomayor members court writing I listened very, very carefully to the world around me to pick up the signals of when trouble was coming. Not that I could stop it. But it made me observant. That was helpful when I became a lawyer, because I knew how to read people's signals. Sonia Sotomayor helpful people world I wouldn't approach the issue of judging in the way the president does. Judges can't rely on what's in their heart. It's not the heart that compels conclusions in cases. It's the law. Sonia Sotomayor law heart jobs You can't be a minority in this society without having someone express disapproval about affirmative action. Sonia Sotomayor this-society minorities action Oh my God, I don't think you can say anyone looks forward to controversy. Sonia Sotomayor controversy looks thinking I stand on the shoulders of countless people, yet there is one extraordinary person who is my life aspiration. That person is my mother, Celina Sotomayor. Sonia Sotomayor extraordinary-person mother people I firmly believe in the rule of law as the foundation for all of our basic rights. Sonia Sotomayor rights law believe I was raised in a Bronx public housing project, but studied at two of the nation's finest universities. I did work as an assistant district attorney, prosecuting violent crimes that devastate our communities. Sonia Sotomayor assistants community two It is very important when you judge to recognize that you have to stay impartial. That's what the nature of my job is. I have to unhook myself from my emotional responses and try to stay within my unemotional, objective persona. Sonia Sotomayor emotional judging jobs All judges have cases that touch our passions deeply, but we all struggle constantly with remaining impartial. Sonia Sotomayor passion judging struggle I am a very spiritual person. Maybe not traditionally religious in terms of Sunday Mass every week, that sort of thing. Sonia Sotomayor sunday religious spiritual I do think there is a value in the services of judges for long periods of time. Sonia Sotomayor judging long thinking
