Sotomayor Explains "Wise Latina" Comment

Republican Questions Focus on Supreme Court Nominee's Past Speeches, Abortion, Firefighter Case

(CBS/ AP)  Updated 1:25 p.m. ET

Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor on the second day of her confirmation hearings explained the well-publicized "wise Latina" comments she has made in the past.

"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," Sotomayor said in a speech at 2001 at the University of California, Berkeley, law school. She made similar statements at other such events.

"I was trying to inspire (students) to believe their experiences would enrich the legal system," Sotomayor said Tuesday. "I was also trying to inspire them to believe they could become anything they wanted to become, just as I have."

She said the context of her words created a misunderstanding.

"I want to state upfront, unequivocally and without doubt: I do not believe that any ethnic, racial or gender group has an advantage in sound judging," she said. "I do believe every person has an equal opportunity to be a good and wise judge, regardless of their background or life experience."

During questioning from Republican Sen. Jon Kyl, Sotomayor admitted it was a poor choice of words.

"The words I chose, taking the rhetorical flourish, it was a bad idea," she said. "I do understand that there are some who have read this differently, and I understand why they might have concern."

As a former lawyer, Kyl said he understood why Sotomayor might have raised this point with the students she was talking to. However, Kyl said he took issue with the fact that Sotomayor did not also talk much about the need for those future judges to set their prejudices aside.

"The fault I have with your speech is... you don't say that that's what you need this information for," he said. "You say, if there are enough of us, we will make a difference, inferring that it is a good thing if we begin deciding cases differently."

Republicans remained skeptical of Sotomayor's explanation, CBS News legal analyst Andrew Cohen points out.

Indeed, Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., the senior Republican on the committee, also questioned whether Sotomayor believes judges can put aside their personal views.

"We're not robots... who don't have feelings," Sotomayor said. "We have to recognize those feelings and put them aside. That's our job. I think the system is strengthened when judges don't assume they're impartial."

Sessions questioned previous statements Sotomayor has made, including another comment given in her 2001 Berkeley speech: "I wonder whether achieving that goal (of impartiality) is possible in all or even in most cases," she said in that speech.

"Aren't you saying you expect your heritage and background to influence your decision making?" Sessions asked.

"Life experiences do influence us in good ways," Sotomayor said in response. "That's why we seek the enrichment of our legal system from life experiences, but that's not what drives a result. The impartiality is an understanding that the law is what drives the result... I wasn't encouraging the belief that I thought that (life experiences) should drive the result."

Sotomayor said that her record shows she has never let her personal views inappropriately impact her decisions as a judge. She said, however, that life experiences enable people to understand some facts better than others -- which is why appellate courts have more than one judge.

Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch questioned the reasoning behind her decision in the New Haven firefighters case, which was overturned by the Supreme Court. In that case, the city of New Have, Conn. threw out the results of a test given to firefighters to qualify for promotions. Very few minorities did well on the test. Sotomayor was part of a three-judge panel that ruled in favor of the city.

"Your decision... has become very controversial," Hatch said. "People are tired of the courts imposing their will against one group or another without justifiication."

Sotomayor said the case was not about quotas or affirmative action but about the test in question.

"This was a challenge to a test that everybody agreed had a very wide difference between the pass rate of a variety of different groups," she said. "The city (of New Haven) was faced with the possibility, recognized in law, that the employees who were disparately impacted...could bring a suit."

Sotomayor said the city's actions were permissible under established law -- while the Supreme Court applied a new standard.

The Supreme Court "announced it was applying a standard from a different theory of law and explained how to look at this question in the future," she said.

The senators queried Sotomayor on a number of other subjects ranging from her opinion on cameras in the courtroom, the case Bush v. Gore and the limits of executive power.

Sotomayor would not give her opinion on whether or not the Supreme Court should have weighed in on Bush v. Gore, or their decision. She said, however, that the fact that the case prompted many states to make changes to their electoral law made the case "a tribute to the greatness of our American system."

"Whether you agree or disagree with the Supreme Court decision, all of the branches become involved" in improving the system, she said.

Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein asked the judge whether the Constitution permits the president to use "signing statements" to "disregard" portions of legislation passed by the Congress.

Sotomayor said it was a "broad question" she had to be "very cautious in answering." She cited previous judicial opinions that say the president's actions should be judged in the context of what Congress has or has not done. If Congress has expressly authorized a president to act in a certain way, "then he is acting at his highest stature of power," she said. He is working at his lowest ebb of power when acting in prohibition of an act of Congress. It is murkiest in areas on which the Congress has not spoken, Sotomayor said.

She concluded by saying the bottom line is that "the president can't act in violation of the Constitution. No one's above the law."

Sotomayor was also hesitant to answer questions from Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham about whether a person who is found to be a member of an enemy force must eventually be returned to battle or released. Sotomayor said she has not practiced military law, though she has read Supreme Court rulings based on that law.

Sotomayor has shown caution throughout the proceedings so far, according to Cohen. She has taken care to answer questions from Republicans more thoroughly than the questions from Demcrats, Cohen said.

The confirmation hearings, which began with opening statements Monday, resumed today with question-and-answer rounds that are expected to stretch over two days and possibly into a third.

Democrats and Republicans alike spoke glowingly Monday about the 55-year-old appeals court judge's rise from public housing in the Bronx to her nomination to be the first Hispanic and only the third woman on the Supreme Court.

"I would hope every American is proud that a Hispanic woman has been nominated to sit on the Supreme Court," said Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz.

Former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, himself a former Texas State Supreme Court judge, said a good justice is "sensitive" to his or her biases.

"That should be the reality in every case, not an aspiration," Gonzales told CBS' "The Early Show" Tuesday.

But the GOP made clear, despite the Democrats' Senate majority that makes her confirmation likely, it will not let Sotomayor's hearings pass without raising questions about her impartiality. By extension, Republicans also are attacking President Barack Obama for what they see as a double standard in calling for her quick confirmation after voting against President George W. Bush's two high-court appointees.

Republicans also attacked Mr. Obama and his comments about empathy a number of times - possibly making Sotomayor's hearing a prop in a larger fight, according to Cohen.

The thrust of the Republican case against Sotomayor stems from her "wise Latina" comment.

Sotomayor offered a polite, brief but firm rebuttal in her opening statement, her first substantive remarks since Mr. Obama nominated her in May to replace Justice David Souter, who retired last month.

(Read the full text of Sotomayor's prepared statement here.)

She explained that her own experiences helped her listen to and understand the people who appear before her. "That is how I seek to strengthen both the rule of law and faith in the impartiality of our judicial system," she said.

In every case, she said, "I applied the law to the facts at hand."


More coverage of the Sotomayor confirmation hearings:

Republicans Aren't Sold on "Wise Latina" Explanation

Sotomayor Goes to Rope-a-Dope Strategy

Analysis: Sotomayor Has Been Very Cautious

Sotomayor: Abortion Law Is "Settled"

Sotomayor Treads Lightly On Gun Issue

Sotomayor Hearings Update: Is She a Prop for Larger Fight?

Sotomayor Promises "Fidelity to the Law"

Sotomayor Hearings as Partisan Platform

Sotomayor's Confirmation To-Do List

[SAMTORRES66]

"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,"



She was married to a white guy for 8 years.. she know what she's talking about.....

[Sloughfoot]

"She said the context of her words created a misunderstanding." No, most real Americans read you loud and clear.

[cregis]

Most women make statements that women do things better than men. This is a common statement. Sotomayor should just say I'm a wise latina and think my decisions are better than anyone else's even white men. Period. The End. If I were her I would just listen to these idiot Pub Senators lecture and answer with a general statement, read my decisions. All she has to do is get through this waste of tax payers money and then she's set for life. The pubs such as Sessioms and Graham have certainly shown themselves to be racist and condescending'sexists.

[mikejacobskc]

Sotomayor, typo, my bad.

[mikejacobskc]

If there was an ugly contest, Sotomayer and Ginsberg would end up in a tie. What a sight to wake up to....ugh.

That being said, all the huffing and puffing in the world isn't going to stop her from getting on the Court. The vote will probably be around 65-35.

We elected a left-wing ideologue as President. Should we be surprised that he appoints a left-wing ideologue to the Supreme Court? To the victors go the spoils.

But my gosh is she ugly. Her face looks like a bowlful of crushed a-holes.

[tbbaot]

How would the senate treat a candidate that had made a "wise White man" comment. Why the difference?

[ahrats]

Ms. Sotomayor Are you a Latin American or a American Latino? If you are so proud of your heritage go back to your mother country of origin and work there. I prefer Americans. Remeber she will have the job for life, and is so much smater then white americans.

[saturn05]

Okay ignorant fools....her judicial decisions show no racial bias and if you truly cared about judges impartiality on the Supreme Court, you would be happy with her experience and her decisions. Much unlike the conservative judges who in their nomination questioning stated clearly that they do use their personal beliefs in their decision-making and the proof lies in the cases they have been involved with. But with Sotomayor, her judgements have been based on the law. Grow up if you want to offer an opinion. You don't have to have the same opinion as mine, but don't subject us to gossip and bigotry.

[chaseangus]

Disappointed the only minority woman that could be found for nomination is one that made this type of comment. I do not believe she is the only qualified Latina woman. I think the administration could have found someone with the same ethnic and gender makeup who does not feel a sense of superiority b/c of ethnicity and gender. But maybe that's just built in to the human psyche. White males had the attitude of superiority for years. And now it's being voiced by other ethnic groups. And women. Ground Hog day begins again.

[cineadaenic]

Don't you think it would be more truthful to say she TRIED to explain away the stupid racist remark? BTW: "Hispanics" are NOT indigenous to the Americas, they are the Conquistadors who SLAUGHTERED the Natives they "discovered in the "Americas". Cound't cut it in Meso and South America? Why not try your ethicity in North America...

[South-of-Heaven]

Thats the only issue, they call her a racist for it.
the firefighter thing is hillarious. In that case
the Supreme Court had to Interpret the Law using a different theory and explained it to the lower courts in order to reverse it.
so as to implement it and fix what was otherwise flawed.
Sotomayor applied the law as it stood knowing full well she cant
change the law or interpret it in a manner that is unconstitutional.
.... yet. all the blame goes to her in this case.
the funny thing is, Southern Whites are using the Racism mantra more than minorities, now this is new and it sure is fun watching it happen. am i in the Twilight Zone?

[bpai99]

As the monopoly on power enjoyed by Caucasian-Christian males over the last several centuries of Western Civilization continues to fade, it's inevitable that many of them will not willingly give up "the good old days." To ease their sense of loss of entitlement and reduce the chance that they will react violently, it's therefore necessary that those in the forefront of the change to a more representative society need to be very "clean" (Biden's misspeak on Obama during the campaign actually spoke volumes), "nice", suitably respectful and unthreatening to the degree possible (of course their appearance alone makes them a threat).

Sodomayor has had to deal with this her entire career (like Obama), so she's of course going to come across as appealing and likeable a personality as possible. The GOP Caucasian-Christian males sitting in judgment of her won't confirm her on qualifications alone no matter what, she will still have to bow and scrape and dance to their tune.

[jeannettelj]

Aren't there any other issues besides the "Latino" remark?

[novamba]

I am a wise enough latino to know that if a white man had used such a ridiculous statement, these hearings would have been over within 5 minutes of starting.

[thgdriver]

She is Pinocchio reincarnated from a cartoon to a supreme court wannabe, did everybody notice how her nose grows an inch every time she opens her mouth?

First the socialist Nobama, now her. God help America.

[tbbaot]

She did not explain why she used the "wise Latina" comment to anyones satisfaction. She used this same line at least 5 times in speeches since 1994. If you take the racists remarks and couple that with her membership in LaRaza, you get a clear picture. She is unfit to serve.

[wtcmedic911]

you could almost see her nose growing. if it wasnt for all her speechs and such i would have believed her totally and been pleased. all i heard is BS with her past words going threw her mind.

[spiritwalk]

"I was trying to inspire (students) to believe their experiences would enrich the legal system...I was also trying to inspire them to believe they could become anything they wanted to become, just as I have."

If she had of just said that there would be no trouble now. Considering that she is a judge I would hope that might have a better concept of the usage of words than she has shown.

A Supreme Court Justice is all about expressing legal opinions and if;

"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,"

If she truly did not mean to mean what she said than perhaps a better candidate is needed who can actually say what they mean. On the court what comes out of her mouth will affect everyone for years to come and we cannot afford a justice who misspeaks.

[Novaleo]

It is no wonder the Repooplicans are a dead party! They are so inane in their approach to anything that is reasonable. Lindsay Graham needs to be tied to a tree and horsewhipped! What a patronizing nasty little man with a tiny mind! Talk about grandstanding! And, he thought himself sooooo clever!
I see thru these rauchy little doo doo heads. They have their 30 min on national tv and think they are the next nominee for the 2012 election!
God help us! We are still digging out after Bushie and Cheeeeenneeesssy (and Halliburton and the Billions we paid them for nothing!)

[darthcheney345]

And the Democrats are well on their way to joining the GOP as a "dead party" by foisting this racist bigot on us. She is so racist she can't even see that she's racist. She's actually proud of being a bigot, based on her comment that she thought her racist comment would "inspire" college students.

Obama's popularity is slippng already, and he hasn't been in office a full six months yet.

It won't be long before the public gets fed up with the corrupt Democrats again, just like they did 8 years ago.

[harley9284]

lol