We educated, privileged lawyers have a professional and moral duty to represent the underrepresented in our society, to ensure that justice exists for all, both legal and economic justice. Sonia Sotomayor More Quotes by Sonia Sotomayor More Quotes From Sonia Sotomayor A surplus of effort could overcome a deficit of confidence. Sonia Sotomayor effort overcoming inspiring I am a product of affirmative action. I am the perfect affirmative action baby. I am Puerto Rican, born and raised in the south Bronx. My test scores were not comparable to my colleagues at Princeton and Yale. Not so far off so that I wasn't able to succeed at those institutions. Sonia Sotomayor yale perfect baby Although wisdom is built on life experiences, the mere accumulation of years guarantees nothing. Sonia Sotomayor life-experience guarantees years There are no bystanders in this life. Sonia Sotomayor bystanders this-life life It's not the heart that compels conclusions in cases, it's the law. Sonia Sotomayor cases law heart So many people grew up with challenges, as I did. There weren't always happy things happening to me or around me. But when you look at the core of goodness within yourself - at the optimism and hope - you realize it comes from the environment you grew up in. Sonia Sotomayor optimism challenges people If I go home, get a gun, come back and shoot you, that may not be legal under New York law because you would have alternative ways to defend. Sonia Sotomayor gun new-york home I was a keen observer and listener. I picked up on clues. I figured things out logically, and I enjoyed puzzles. I loved the clear, focused feeling that came when I concentrated on solving a problem and everything else faded out. Sonia Sotomayor clue problem feelings For as long as I can remember, I have been inspired by the achievement of our founding fathers. They set forth principles that have endured for than more two centuries. Those principles are as meaningful and relevant in each generation as the generation before. It would be a profound privilege for me to play a role in applying those principles to the questions and controversies we face today. Sonia Sotomayor play meaningful father We have to look and ensure that we're paying attention to what we're doing, so that we don't reflexively institute processes and procedures that exclude people without thought. Sonia Sotomayor attention people looks Without question, so many people, throughout my life, never think of Puerto Rico as part of the United States. Sonia Sotomayor united-states people thinking I am growing to love DC.This [Washington] is a beautiful city. I think every citizen should come see their capital. A lot of the museums are free, there are restaurants that are reasonably priced. Sonia Sotomayor beautiful museums thinking When I talk to kids, I often tell them, "I'm going to disappoint you someday. I won't be worth my salt as a judge if I don't render at least one decision that makes you unhappy. Because if I'm following the law - and I don't write them - there has to be some decision you won't like. Please don't judge any person by one act. Take from them the good and don't concentrate on the little things that make you unhappy." That's my approach to family and friends, too. Sonia Sotomayor judging writing kids I don't view prosecutors and attorneys as natural enemies. ... Though their roles are oppositional, the two simply have different roles to play in pursuit of the larger purpose, realizing the rule of law. ... This is not to deny that the will to win drives those efforts. ... Rather, it is simply to insist that ultimately, neither the accused nor society is served unless the integrity of the system is set above the expedient purposes of either side. Sonia Sotomayor views winning integrity That tide of insecurity would come in and out over the years, sometimes stranding me for a while but occasionally lifting me just beyond what I thought I could acomplish. Either way, it would wash over the same bedrock certainty: ultimately, I know myself. Sonia Sotomayor insecurity way years I'm a common law judge. I believe in deciding every case on its facts, not on a legal philosophy. And I believe in deciding each case in the most limited way possible, because common law judges have a firm belief that the best development of the law is the one that lets society show you the next step, and that next step is in the new facts that each case presents. Sonia Sotomayor law philosophy believe I savor life. When you have anything that threatens life... it prods you into stepping back and really appreciating the value of life and taking from it what you can. Sonia Sotomayor stepping-back value-of-life appreciate I didn't know I had a sense of limitation until I got into the greater world. Sonia Sotomayor limitation world Even though Article IV of the Constitution says that treaties are the 'supreme law of the land,' in most instances they're not even law. Sonia Sotomayor constitution land law I honestly felt no envy or resentment, only astonishment at how much of a world there was out there and how much of it others already knew. The agenda for self-cultivation that had been set for my classmates by their teachers and parents was something I'd have to develop for myself. Sonia Sotomayor envy self teacher
