Everything you missed at Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s visit to UC Berkeley
‘I have never laid my head down at night regretting a decision’
On Thursday, March 9th, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor visited UC Berkeley’s Zellerbach Hall.
If you missed it, you’re not alone. Tickets were apparently gone within five minutes of Tuesday’s email–possibly a record, and rumored to be faster than Bill Clinton’s last visit, according to the introduction by Vice Chancellor of Equity and Inclusion, Na’Ilah Nasir.
The auditorium was packed with excited law students, faculty, staff, and a few lucky undergrads for this once in a lifetime experience. Her talk was filled with words of wisdom, a surprising amount of hugs, and lots of laughter. Here are some of the highlights:
Can justices be political?
“The Justices read the newspapers. How do you think we got to where we are? No justice is not political,” Sotomayor said, which was met with surprised murmurs in the audience. She went on to explain “We are engaged and we pay attention to what’s happening in the world.”
The main takeaway was that while all justices have political views that shape their core values, the cardinal sin of any judge is to make a decision before all sides are heard. In the end, the best decision for any justice to make is the one they truly believe is the most legal and moral.
“I have never laid my head down at night regretting a decision. Don’t ever do something you will regret.”
On agreements (and disagreements!) with other justices
When asked by Boalt’s interim dean, Melissa Murray, about Sotomayor’s relationship with the late Justice Scalia, Sotomayor had some interesting insights.
Despite their differences, she considered him a great friend, with whom she shared a surprising amount of common ground. The justice made the point that she doesn’t agree with anyone on the Supreme Court 100% of the time, but agrees with all of them some of the time.
Sotomayor jokes, “Given how much I dissent, those five are not always right,” to a round of laughter before returning to seriousness.
“By considering their views, I become a better judge.”
This brilliant exchange between Murray and Sotomayor
Murray: Have you ever felt underestimated?
Sotomayor: Always. People accused me of not being smart enough.
Murray: Fake news.
Sotomayor: Alternative facts.
So close, yet so far
Justice Sotomayor joins the audience
Much to her security detail’s dismay, Sotomayor left her seat onstage for hugs, handshakes, and questions from the delighted audience.
“I can’t sit still,” she explained.
Among the questions she took from the law students, she was asked by an elementary school volunteer what advice she would give to disadvantaged children. Her answer, however, seemed to be taken to heart by every adult in the room:
“There’s always, always, always hope. The day you give up on hope is the day you give up on living.”
On a lighter note
Fun facts: “I can’t sing. They don’t even let me sing Happy Birthday!”
The key to success: “Marry your talent to your passion.”
Can’t dance?: “Find a good dancer and take his beat.”
Snow or beach vacation?: “Beach!”
Cal or Stanford?: Sotomayor (literally) let the Cal flag fly!
Thanks for the visit! Go Bears!