U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor visited the UA Law School Thursday as part of the Albritton lecture series.
Sotomayor became the first Hispanic and third female justice on the Supreme Court when she was appointed by former President Barack Obama in 2009.
Born in the Bronx, Sotomayor graduated from Princeton in 1976, followed by Yale Law School in 1979. She served as an assistant district attorney in Manhattan, and a judge for the Federal District Court for the Southern DIstrict of New York and Court of Appeals for the second circuit. .
The Albritton series, established by the Albritton family in 1973, has hosted 12 Supreme Court Justices at the law school, including Sotomayor in 2020.
Sotomayor talked to law students about artificial intelligence in law, handling disagreements with colleagues, and advice to female students on how to be a woman in a male dominated field.
She told students about an AI program that is able to predict the outcome of Supreme Court decisions, which she called “a very bad thing” as it shows the court is too predictable, and not opening their minds to enough new ideas. Though she was supportive of AI as a tool to aid legal professionals.
“It is a new revolution, just as computers were the revolution to my generation of lawyering,” Sotomayor said.
Sotomayor then took a question about how to decide to write a dissent when she disagrees, and what role dissents play in decisions. In one of her most famous dissents, Sotomayor wrote 58 pages against Schuette v. Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, which said that a Michigan constitutional amendment race-based admissions in public schools did not violate the Equal Protections Clause.
In 2024, Sotomayor wrote a dissent following Trump v. The United States, which granted former presidents immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts. She called the decision a “mockery” and said that it makes a president a “king above the law.”
She said that she only writes dissents if she believes it will serve a useful purpose, such as getting the law changed. If the other side has sufficiently argued their case, she does not write one, she said.
One question, asked by the valedictorian of the UA Law 3L class, Sav Miles, asked about the deepening political divide in the U.S. and how Sotomayor is able to build bridges with her colleagues that believe differently than she does. Currently, she is one of only three liberal judges on the Court.
Her answer came quickly — she tries to find the good in every person.
“I’m not thinking that how they vote defines them as people,” Sotomayor said, adding that she has a civil relationship with “virtually all of them” and friendship with most of them.
For Miles, who said she plans to work in litigation and civil rights, this served as a reminder to see past political differences.
“Her ability to see the inherent value and the shared common ground and morals with all of them is incredibly powerful and something that I’ll take away in both my personal and professional life,” she said.
Sotomayor ended her hour-long lecture with advice to young women wanting to get into legal professions. Her advice was to find a passion, as passionate people create leaders.
“If you believe, people will follow you. They will believe too,” Sotomayor said.
Tykeisa Nesbitt, president of the Business Law Society and First Generation Students Association and incoming president of the Student Bar Association, said that Sotomayor’s advice to women was going to follow her throughout her legal career.
Nesbitt said she plans on being a “change maker” as her dream is to help the people in the community that shaped her. As one of five children, Nesbitt said she had always been told what to do. Now, she is working to become a leader.
“Figuring out your purpose and then leading with that purpose is how you inspire the community, inspire the people you want to lead, and just inspire the world,” Nesbitt said.
Hence then, the article about supreme court justice sotomayor visits ua school of law was published today ( ) and is available on The Crimson White ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor visits UA School of Law )
Also on site :
- California Congressman Slams Ex-Staffer's Sexual Assault Claims
- Iran-US war latest: Trump threatens to ‘finish’ war if peace talks fail as negotiators arrive in Pakistan
- DOT: All lanes closed on I-490 East near Pittsford Palmyra Road due to sinkhole