I am an ordinary person who has been blessed with extraordinary opportunities and experiences.
Sonia SotomayorRead
The task of a judge is not to make the law - it is to apply the law.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Judges are responsible for interpreting and enforcing laws, rather than creating them.
Sonia Sotomayor's quote emphasizes the pivotal role of judges in the legal system, where their primary function is to ensure that the law is applied fairly and accurately. This statement reflects the principle of separation of powers, indicating that the judiciary's duty is to uphold the law as it is written, leaving the creation of laws to the legislative branch.
Themes
JudgeLawApplyJusticeLegal System
In practice
Example use cases
In a law school class discussing judicial responsibilities.
More from Sonia Sotomayor
All quotes βThis wealth of experiences, personal and professional, have helped me appreciate the variety of perspectives that present themselves in every case that I hear.
Sonia SotomayorRead
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.
Sonia SotomayorRead
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.
Sonia SotomayorRead
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.
Sonia SotomayorRead
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.
Sonia SotomayorRead
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