I am an ordinary person who has been blessed with extraordinary opportunities and experiences.
Sonia SotomayorRead
Reaching a conclusion has to start with what the parties are arguing, but examining in all situations carefully the facts as they prove them or not prove them, the record as they create it, and then making a decision that is limited to what the law says on the facts before the judge.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Decision-making in legal matters requires a careful examination of the facts and adherence to the law.
This quote by Sonia Sotomayor emphasizes the importance of critical examination and factual analysis in the judicial process. It highlights that while arguments may vary, a fair resolution must be anchored in the truth of the facts and the framework of the law, ensuring that decisions are made judiciously and judiciously within legal boundaries.
Themes
LawFactsDecision MakingJudicialTruth
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be referenced in a legal seminar discussing judicial decision-making processes.
More from Sonia Sotomayor
All quotes →This wealth of experiences, personal and professional, have helped me appreciate the variety of perspectives that present themselves in every case that I hear.
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I was fifteen years old when I understood how it is that things break down: people can't imagine someone else's point of view.
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The truth is that since childhood I had cultivated an existential independence. It came from perceiving the adults around me as unreliable, and without it I felt I wouldn't have survived. I cared deeply for everyone in my family, but in the end I depended on myself.
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As you discover what strength you can draw from your community in this world from which it stands apart, look outward as well as inward. Build bridges instead of walls.
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There are uses to adversity, and they don't reveal themselves until tested. Whether it's serious illness, financial hardship, or the simple constraint of parents who speak limited English, difficulty can tap unexpected strengths.
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