Sotomayor: SCOTUS Justices ‘Can Be Nasty’

That the Supreme Court Justices can be “nasty” to one another is no secret to those reading the Court’s decisions, Sonia Sotomayor said at a talk before the New Lawyer Institute. But the disagreements are tempered by respect, she told the gathering of law school grads. “We are all deeply, deeply involved in trying to make sure that our decisions are the right one,” Justice Sotomayor said. “Sometimes you do have to get emotional to get their attention, but other times you have to be more solicitous. There’s no one technique in life, but it has to start with respect. You’re not going to get anywhere without it.” Sotomayor also shared her misgivings about serving on the Court, and what one of the justices told her about that.