Sotomayor: ‘We’re not robots.’
Sotomayor: ‘We’re not robots.’
One of the main right-wing talking points against Judge Sonia Sotomayor has been that she will let her biases and experiences get in the way of impartial decisions on the Supreme Court. Responding to questions from Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) about whether judges should allow their “prejudices” to “impact their decision-making,” Sotomayor addressed this controversy:
SOTOMAYOR: Never their prejudices. I was talking about the very important goal of the justice system is to ensure that the personal biases and prejudices of a judge do not influence the outcome of a case. What I was talking about was the obligation of judges to examine what they’re feeling as they’re adjudicating a case and to ensure that it’s not influencing the outcome. Life experiences have to influence you. We’re not robots to listen to evidence and not have feelings. We have to recognize those feelings and put them aside. … But there are situations in which some experiences are important in the process of judging because the law asks us to use those experiences.
SESSIONS: Well, I understand that. [...]
SOTOMAYOR: I think the system is strengthened when judges don’t presume they’re impartial, but when judges test themselves to identify when their emotions are driving a result, or their experiences are driving a result, and the law is not.
Sotomayor later added that “at no point or time, have I ever permitted my personal views or sympathies to influence the outcome of a case. In every case where I have identified a sympathy, I have articulated it and explained to the litigant why the law requires a different result. I do not permit my sympathies, personal views, or prejudices, to influence the outcome of my cases.” Watch it:
TP’s Ian Millhiser is live-blogging today’s hearings. Check out his coverage here.
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Sotomayor: ‘We’re not robots.’
Her statement obviously excludes all Republicans……..
July 14th, 2009 at 11:30 amthis one was incredible… from the wonk room:
10:28: Sessions: Sotomayor should have decided a case in the exact same way as conservative Judge José A. Cabranes because Cabranes is also “of Puerto Rican ancestry.” But remember, it is Sotomayor who judges people based solely on their race.
July 14th, 2009 at 11:32 amShe’s awesome! And she’s doing exactly what bigots fear about all minorities…she’s proving she’s better than them.
July 14th, 2009 at 11:33 amHatch and Sessions will pose hard — but not necessarily fair — questions but their heart really isn’t in it. They know that Sotomayor is an excellent, moderate, highly-experienced, intelligent nominee.
They will use their on-camera time to pander to their base, however. After all, that’s what this Kabuki theater is all about.
July 14th, 2009 at 11:33 amSotomayor: ‘We’re not robots.’
– - No? Well Clarence Thomas certainly isn’t human.
July 14th, 2009 at 11:34 amJudge Sotomayor is running circles around the GNOP’s lame attempt at gotcha questions.
PEACE
July 14th, 2009 at 11:36 amI like her command of English language :D
July 14th, 2009 at 11:37 amFunny how anyone not a cancervative , like Scalia or Roberts , isn’t allowed their own personal views in the eyes of morons like Sessions and/or Hatch………
July 14th, 2009 at 11:37 amThe root of Judge Sotomayor’s statement is that every judge is a product of his or her background, environment and experience. Several sitting justices demonstrate the truth of this proposition such as Scalia who asked in oral argument why he should recognize the rights of terror suspects who might do harm to his son in the military and Thomas who explains his hostility to affirmative action as resulting from his experience with being a beneficiary. Sessions et al fully understand this and of course support justices whose experience drives them to oppose affirmative action and the extension of constitutional rights (other than 2nd amendment). This is a transparent “no brown people, no women” attack. Nice seeing all of those Colonel Sanders soundalikes making the argument.
July 14th, 2009 at 11:38 amSessions: “Check please!”
That answer in itself should defuse every right-wing talking point that’s been uttered since her nomination…
July 14th, 2009 at 11:39 amJeff Bovine says:
Does that mean we can look forward to the removal of the cancervative ones from SCOTUS?
July 14th, 2009 at 11:42 amSotomayor later added that “at no point or time, have I ever permitted my personal views or sympathies to influence the outcome of a case.
Whereas Jeff Sessions allows his personal views or sympathies to influence each and every vote he makes in the Senate. He has a zero rating on civil rights issues and is known to be the biggest racist in the Senate. It’s too bad that Sotomayor couldn’t say to Sessions “Tell me Senator. Do you ever allow your racist tendencies to influence how you vote on legislation?”
July 14th, 2009 at 11:43 amJudge Sotomayor raised a hugely important issue, not cited in the original post. She admitted the possibility that she might “unconsciously” have a bias and that is it her duty to try to examine and question whether and what bias she might hold. This willingness and ability to examine and question one’s feelings, even unconscious, or the lack of willingness or ability is one of the fundamental differences between liberal and conservative thought. As MCMetal comments here this eliminates the vast majority of conservatives and republicans. My broader opinion: this issue should be front and center in a holistic public discussion of political mindsets, something Obama said he wanted to change.
July 14th, 2009 at 11:53 amGood for her. Outstanding answer. Otherwise, why have humans on the bench? In this day and age, you could have nine computers, hell you could have one supercomputer doing the judging if you didn’t want people’s experiences brought to the bench.
Hey, that might not be a bad idea, plugging in all of the past decisions of the court and having a computer parse out the verdict just for fun… I wonder where a unbiased supercomputer might come down on the issue of civil rights or DADT or DOMA?? That might be worth a government grant to find out…
July 14th, 2009 at 11:55 amBut she couldn’t do it with a straight face due to her blatant hypocricy.
Tracy… sigh.
What hypocricy [sic] are you referring to?
The years of carefully considered opinions? The ABA’s giving her their highest rating? What?
Does hypocricy [sic] mean something different than hypocrisy?
BTW- I left an answer to your ‘gotcha’ nonsense on the health care thread.
July 14th, 2009 at 11:55 amThere sure is a lot of [sic] hypocricy and propoganda these days…
July 14th, 2009 at 12:00 pmDaily Kos
Racism, it’s alright if you’re all white.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:01 pmI see a lot of trolls crashing and burning on this new rating set-up
July 14th, 2009 at 12:02 pmROFLMFAO!
What’s with this empathy bias b.s.?
Would they have us believe that empathy is more corruptive
than political influence and ideals in a legal decisions.
I wonder how Shouldhavebeenpresident Al Gore feels about
July 14th, 2009 at 12:03 pmthe supreme courts stellar impartiality.
Jeffboste is going down in flames too.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:03 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
– - ONE vote down does that? Or more? And how many votes? Seems rather censorshippy to me.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:06 pmkaty says:
this one was incredible… from the wonk room:
10:28: Sessions: Sotomayor should have decided a case in the exact same way as conservative Judge José A. Cabranes because Cabranes is also “of Puerto Rican ancestry.” But remember, it is Sotomayor who judges people based solely on their race.
July 14th, 2009 at 11:32 am
Sessions’ racism is so hard core. It’s stunning.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:06 pmIf Thomas isn’t a robot, then how was he programmed by Antonin Sclaia?
July 14th, 2009 at 12:10 pmBadmoodman says:
- – ONE vote down does that? Or more? And how many votes? Seems rather censorshippy to me.
By my count, it takes 10 down votes to officially voted a post down and block it from view. Seems rather fair in light of some of the idiocy that we’re no longer forced to see!
July 14th, 2009 at 12:11 pmBadmoodman says:
This comment has been voted down. Click to read.
- – ONE vote down does that? Or more? And how many votes? Seems rather censorshippy to me.
it takes 10 votes down to do that
July 14th, 2009 at 12:11 pmIt’s when the total up and down votes equal -10 or lower.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:11 pmBadmoodman says:
A comment isn’t banned until it reaches a score of -10, which is derived from totally the up votes and then subtracting the no votes.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:11 pmDarn, I should have waited so I could be #10 to vote down Tracist.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:12 pmBadmoodman says:
If you actually click to read, you’ll see that that particular comment received a net rating of -16. The threshold for being voted down is -10, so people are obviously still clicking, reading and voting on these collapsed comments.
I think it’s great, and good for TP!
PEACE
July 14th, 2009 at 12:12 pmBadmoodman says:
- – ONE vote down does that? Or more? And how many votes? Seems rather censorshippy to me.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
______________
That it is. :)
So long, trolls!
July 14th, 2009 at 12:12 pmIf you REALLY want to read what they said, badmoodman, just click on the “Click to read”.
I actually like the system, personally.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:13 pmTracy__5 says:
This comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Ahhhhhhh. So therapeutic.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:14 pmI haven’t opened one of the collapsed comments yet. I don’t even care what outrageous lies Tracy is telling today.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:15 pmWayne says:
I actually like the system, personally.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
I do, too. I like the fact that the comment is still there, and anyone can read it if they so choose. I like that option.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:16 pmJeff Bovine says:
Damn it. I wanted to be number 10.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
It is surprisingly satisfying. ;)
July 14th, 2009 at 12:17 pmI wonder if Tracy has caught on yet.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:18 pmit’s gonna be almost impossible for AJ and his sidekick, hanshiro to hijack a thread and make it all about them now
gotta love the new rating system (although, I would like to know how many up votes vs down votes a post gets, not just the aggregate)
July 14th, 2009 at 12:19 pmLove the new system.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:19 pmIf a troll has more than ten negative votes, it probably was something racist that deserved to be banned.
tony and lido
It may seem “censorshippy” but it is in fact a recognition that crap comments need not get the attention they seek. Let’s face it; most of the trolls come here simply to stir up things, not to have a reasonable conversation.
The thing I think we in the community will have to guard against is developing a hair-trigger “Vote Down” finger just because we disagree with a well-thought-out oppositional comment. I’m going to try to restrict my use of the button to stuff that really has no merit in my opinion.
And I agree with Wayne; I like the way the system allows those comments voted to down to still be read if one so chooses.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:20 pmBy the way, we may not be robots, but I certainly commend the machinery and programming in place that automatically block the troll-speech here.
Good job, robots!
July 14th, 2009 at 12:21 pmWe are not robots, but the Republic Fascist Party Members are part of the “Borg”, so, I guess the 23%ers could be considered Robots.
Fcuk the Republic Fascist Party
July 14th, 2009 at 12:21 pmI got to be number 10 on several of GOPsby’s comments yesterday.
I recommend the experience.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:21 pmSessions.
What a piece of racist crap.
Sweet Home Alabama? Are all Whites that racist down there?
On a lighter note, some poster yesterday had the ‘word of the day’…
Lindsay Graham is a pimpsqueak. Bravo! Websters, are you listening?
July 14th, 2009 at 12:23 pmHow refreshing to see a true democracy where every vote counts! Unless these counters were devised by Diebold…
Sorry, bad election fraud joke.
PEACE
July 14th, 2009 at 12:23 pmI must say that the Vote up/Vote down is a nice addition, now we don’t have to view the stupidity, vile hatred from scum sucking, un-american bigots.
Thumbs Up TP
Tracy5’s hate mongering is a thing of the past.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:25 pmJeff Bovine says:
I would like to suggest that Think Progress also adds incrementally increasing temporary bans with increasing number of “voted down” posts.
For example, after 10 voted down messages, you are banned for 1 day, 20 = 5 days, 30 = 2 weeks, etc., etc., etc.,
July 14th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
___________
Ooo – I like this!
But why stop with bans? Perhaps after 50 voted-down comments you have your email address sold to spammers, after 75 voted-down messages you get a flaming bag of poo on your doorstep, and after 100 voted-down messages Faiz comes to your house and punches you in the face?
July 14th, 2009 at 12:26 pmIf anyone wanted a clear example of the difference between a woman that Democrats believe is qualified to serve our nation and a woman that Republicans believe is qualified to serve our nation, all they have to do is imagine how Ms. Sarah Palin would respond to the kinds of tough and complex questions that Judge Sonia Sotomayor is. Does ANYONE sincerely believe Ms. Sarah Palin has anywhere near the intelligence, knowledge, experience, credibility or command of the English language that Judge Sonia Sotomayor does? ANY REPUBLICAN? ANYONE ON THE PLANET?
July 14th, 2009 at 12:26 pmOf course, when I said, The thing I think we in the community will have to guard against is developing a hair-trigger “Vote Down” finger just because we disagree with a well-thought-out oppositional comment, I was speaking mostly theoretically, because such an animal as a “well-thought-out oppositional comment” seems to be an endangered species around here.
(I suspect hanshiro would come along and accuse me of hypocrisy in saying that, but then, I’ve not been able to communicate to hanshiro the true nature of the conflict between us. He still thinks it’s because he and AJ simply criticize the president.)
July 14th, 2009 at 12:26 pmralph the wonder locust says:
And I agree with Wayne; I like the way the system allows those comments voted to down to still be read if one so chooses.
I think some of the annoying trolls may get clicked down because of past behavior, but they should settle down IF they start being civil in their comments. Thats a big IF.
Also if you feel someone has been voted down unfairly, you can always use your vote for a positive rather than a negative.
They will find that name switching will not get them around this one, hehe.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:26 pmI see Jeff Bovine picked up on the theoretical nature of my musing before I had a chance to clarify.
Good on ya, mate.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:27 pmI volunteer to deliver the flaming bags of poo.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:29 pmosage says: If anyone wanted a clear example of the difference between a woman that Democrats believe is qualified to serve our nation and a woman that Republicans believe is qualified to serve our nation, all they have to do is imagine how Ms. Sarah Palin would respond to the kinds of tough and complex questions that Judge Sonia Sotomayor is.
I was having the same line of thinking, but it involved Harriet Meirs. Remember how embarrassing that was? Not even the Republics believed she was anywhere near qualified, but ButtboyBush refused to withhold her nomination.
Harriet is now housecleaning at Texas Tech…
July 14th, 2009 at 12:31 pmFrom the Wonk Room’s live-blogging on the Sotomayor hearings:
This boy needs to grow up. I’d say he needs to grow a brain, but there’s no seed…
July 14th, 2009 at 12:32 pmI can pitch in to help Faiz with the face punching, too.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:33 pmI heard a great joke on Stephanie Miller yesterday. Her guest said that the Vatican had to revote for the Pope three times because they were using Diebold voting machines, and George W. Bush kept winning the election.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:35 pmZooey says:
From the Wonk Room’s live-blogging on the Sotomayor hearings:
11:52: Jason Mattera, the “surprisingly fresh face of conservatism,” doubles down on his previous statement that Sotomayor will “shank” Scalia because she is from the “ghetto” Says Mattera: “Sotomayor will not ’shank’ Scalia on the bench. What I meant to say is that she’ll shoot him up in a drive-by. Watch out, brother Antonin!”
This boy needs to grow up. I’d say he needs to grow a brain, but there’s no seed…
The funny thing: Mattera apparently was also questioning why TP was doing something as trivial as trolling Mattera’s FaceBook page.
The solution: Jason, my friend, if you didn’t want people to misquote you or use your words as ammunition, then don’t publicly post them!
July 14th, 2009 at 12:42 pmi think I hear a gnat whining at #64
July 14th, 2009 at 12:42 pmTracy has told so many lies, he should get an automatic thumbs down.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:42 pmI’m sorry, but did you guys hear a buzzing sound?
July 14th, 2009 at 12:43 pmWe also have thinner skulls.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:43 pmNothing could be more wimpy than being a right winger that is afraid of gay people, strong women, brown skin, black skin, fair competition, legitimate elections, and is so terrified of cave-dwelling losers that he would support torture and war.
Only a pansy little tracist would be like that
July 14th, 2009 at 12:44 pmWhat’s more fun than seeing the greatgopsby bite the dust (and at least he was funny) – saying Goodbye! to Tracy.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:45 pmTracist doesn’t understand the concept of “censorship”, nor of a democratic process.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:46 pmTracy5, the Vote Up/Down Tools are not so much similar to censorship as they are similar to the practice of shunning.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:47 pmTracy__5 says:
Vote Up or down Tool fits right in with those who favor censorship.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
___________
Yup! This is the good kind of censorship. Censorship by the community. Censorship by democracy. Censorship by the readers.
So long, Tracist!
July 14th, 2009 at 12:48 pmFunny, my band members turn to me as the enforcer. Don’t worry, I won’t punch you, you’re too soft.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:49 pmYeah, but I think our new bug-zapper should take care of it in short order.
It will be interesting to see if any of our trolls want to be a part of the community enough to moderate their comments, or if they’ll just get more and more pissed off and unhinged, and eventually embrace the pathetic validation that they come to find in having their comments voted down.
After all, that’s a kind of attention, too, isn’t it?
July 14th, 2009 at 12:50 pmYou don’t have to understand anything when you just make shit up as you go along.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:50 pmTracy__5 says:
And the practice of whinning.
Which, of course, is EXACTLY what you have been doing in response to the presence of the Vote Up/Down Tools.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:51 pmTracy__5 says:
And the practice of whinning.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
_____________
If the word you mean is “whining,” then you’re wrong. Whining means constantly complaining about a problem instead of doing something about it. The Vote Down tool is doing something about it. So it’s not like whining at all.
If the word you mean is “winning,” then you’re correct. Pummeling down troll comments like yours with 10 votes is an awful lot like winning. :)
July 14th, 2009 at 12:51 pmOh, well, there you have it — Tracist thinks communities should not be organized. A community organizers… well, they’re just the lowest of the low. Right, Tracist?
July 14th, 2009 at 12:52 pmHearten up Tracy, you can still be an ass, just not here.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:54 pmI guess tracist isn’t aware that, in addition to being a musician, I’m also a biker.
July 14th, 2009 at 12:54 pmo, he can still be one here, it’s just that it will take an extra click to read any of its spew
most people won’t bother
July 14th, 2009 at 12:55 pmEspecialy when they find out that they just wasted a click.
July 14th, 2009 at 1:00 pmtoo funny
July 14th, 2009 at 1:01 pmSomebody is bumming….
July 14th, 2009 at 1:06 pmPoor Tracy won’t be able to report from alternate reality anymore.
July 14th, 2009 at 1:15 pmI, too, like the new “vote down” device. Over time, it should tone down both the trolling and the anti-trolling messages and make the threads shorter and more pertinent.
Good move, TP!
July 14th, 2009 at 1:16 pmso, based on tracist’s declared hate for TP and it’s new system, should it be assumed that it will now boycott TP?
or does it just like to whine? I mean, it IS a pansy little coward, after all.
July 14th, 2009 at 1:16 pmTracy_5, you should really look at this situation as an opportunity.
Here you are, addicted to trolling, wasting vast amounts of time making (at best) a minor pest of yourself. Consider what you could do with that time if you gave up this addiction. You could make a positive difference in your life or in the lives of others.
Every day that passes is a day you won’t get back. I doubt when you reach the end of your life you’ll say, “oh, if only I’d spent more time trolling!”
July 14th, 2009 at 1:19 pmCall 911 for Tracy_5, a whaaambulance is needed.
July 14th, 2009 at 1:19 pmGoodbye, Trace.
July 14th, 2009 at 1:19 pmWay to go Sotomayor – handling Sessions with his ignorant line of questioning and all! HAHA!
Thanks TP for the Vote Down button – I’m lovin’ it! ROTFL!
July 14th, 2009 at 1:21 pmThe only thing you ever make anyone think, is that you are big stinkin’ liar, Mr. Vandelay.
July 14th, 2009 at 1:21 pmAAWWWWW, is poor widdle Twacy having a bummer in the summer?
BWAAAAHAAAAHAAAAHAAAAA!
July 14th, 2009 at 1:21 pmAren’t their buildings to be designed or something or is it just another day of whining that your unique views aren’t swaying anyone?
July 14th, 2009 at 1:28 pmYup, y’all were right. It DOES feel good to the 10th thumbs-down…
July 14th, 2009 at 1:30 pmShe’s handling herself beautifully. I’m so pleased, being she’s been drug through the dirt since being nominated.
July 14th, 2009 at 1:30 pmI was just the 10th vote down for Tracy_5 @ #99.
July 14th, 2009 at 1:30 pmMost satisfying thing I’ve done in a while. :-)
Hey! I got to be #10 on Tracy’s post #99! SMACK!
July 14th, 2009 at 1:31 pmNo, Uncle Ho, it was me! Stop ruining my fun!
July 14th, 2009 at 1:32 pm——————————————————————————–
Uh oh. Tracy did you get another union construction crew fired because of your faulty design?
July 14th, 2009 at 1:33 pmJuly 14th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
shoeless :
Shall we call it a tie?
July 14th, 2009 at 1:34 pmOK Uncle Ho, we each get an assist on the slapdown.
July 14th, 2009 at 1:36 pmTracy,
Congratulations, I’ve just gone over the thread and you’ve managed to be voted down 145 times on 11 posts. Good job!
July 14th, 2009 at 1:37 pmYes, your daily commute from rural Pennsylvania to Dallas, Texas must really wear you out.
July 14th, 2009 at 1:40 pmTracy? Tracy?
Either Tracy is trying to come up with a “TEST” post to see how we’ll respond – or he’s crying in despair while hitting his crack pipe.
July 14th, 2009 at 1:46 pmNo, Tracy and Daryll aren’t the same person. Daryll is Tracy’s invisible black best friend.
July 14th, 2009 at 1:47 pmMaybe he’ll go back to pretending to be a moderate.
July 14th, 2009 at 1:50 pmI think Tracy wishes he had stayed in alternate reality today. He’s not having much fun out here in the real world.
July 14th, 2009 at 2:08 pmTwacie:
I was #5 to vote down on your last post.
July 14th, 2009 at 2:11 pmYou’re so going down
It’s amazing all the love Tracy’s built up over all his time here.
July 14th, 2009 at 2:13 pmIt appears the only attention Tracist ever receives is on TP.
So sad…
July 14th, 2009 at 2:16 pmRich H says:
——————————————————————————–
Tracy,
Congratulations, I’ve just gone over the thread and you’ve managed to be voted down 145 times on 11 posts. Good job!
July 14th, 2009 at 1:37 pm Vote Up | Vote Down | (4) | Report Abuse
Looks like people are tired of T-8,6996 robotic right wing points.Kinda sucks, like being the nerd in high school.
O/T Has it been verifed T-8,696 is a female?
tony and lido
July 14th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
I should have said-male.
July 14th, 2009 at 3:30 pmSo you haven’t voted down our comments, Trace?
July 14th, 2009 at 4:06 pmTracist seems to think he has something more to offer than whining, racism, and stupid rightwing shit.
July 14th, 2009 at 4:45 pmIs that an admission that you are posting here with multiple identities?
July 14th, 2009 at 6:29 pmPoor punkass Tracy. Your posts suck. You are stupid and worthless so your posts get raptured as they deserve. You can snivel about it like the punk you are until those SNIVEL posts disappear too. Your whining is music to my ears.
July 14th, 2009 at 11:39 pmTracy I’ve been opening your punkass posts just to vote them down some more. You’re going down like like crackwhore for a full pipe
July 14th, 2009 at 11:45 pmI would like to say that I approve of the up/down vote system in place of moderators. And the fact that the comment if voted down by a certain majority of the community, is still available for those who still wish to read the comments. As far as the trolls go, you still are “free” to post whatever you wish, but if enough people vote you down, you can consider yourself Dixie Chicked.
July 15th, 2009 at 12:27 am