Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor has reaffirmed her commitment to remain on the bench, despite increasing calls from some progressive circles for her to step down before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
According to sources close to the justice, Sotomayor, who is in excellent health, feels that her presence on the court is more crucial than ever. "She’s in great health, and the court needs her now more than ever," a close associate remarked.
Progressives have suggested that Sotomayor, the most senior liberal justice on the currently conservative-leaning Supreme Court, should retire. This would allow President Joe Biden to appoint a successor in the short window before Trump's inauguration in January. However, despite months of discussions about a potential retirement to secure a reliable liberal vote, these efforts have not gained traction.
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, in an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press," voiced his opinion that Sotomayor should not step down. “I don’t think it’s sensible,” he stated.
The process of nominating and confirming a Supreme Court justice typically spans several months. Given the limited time frame and potential challenges, it is unlikely that Biden could secure a confirmation before Republicans take control of the Senate in early January.
Justice Sotomayor, 70, has been open about her battle with type 1 diabetes, but she has shown no signs of slowing down. She remains a vigorous participant during oral arguments and continues to make numerous public appearances.
In May, Sotomayor shared with an audience at Harvard University that she sometimes cries following the court’s decisions. Earlier in January, speaking at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, she expressed her "frustration" with the court’s direction, stating, “Every loss truly traumatizes me in my stomach and in my heart.”
“But I have to get up the next morning and keep on fighting,” she added.
No comments:
Post a Comment