First and foremost I only see 12 followers this early in the school year and hope to see a whole lot more in a quick fashion. If you are already a follower let your other friends know the blog has begun. Also I wanted to provide a link to amazon where you can get the book Courage of Their Convictions used for a cheap price...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0140128107/sr=8-1/qid=1244737620/ref=olp_tab_used?ie=UTF8&coliid=&me=&qid=1244737620&sr=8-1&seller=&colid=&condition=used
Now on to the first post... This week we will be discussing the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor and what her impact would be if nominated to the Supreme Court. Below I have provide some links to stories to help answer your questions below. Please read through most of them and then make your post... (Copy and Paste all links)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104534590
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/01/sonia-sotomayor-supreme-c_n_194470.html
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Background-on-Judge-Sonia-Sotomayor/
This last link has many links to stories but just pick out the few that interest you...
http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2009/supreme.court/
So here is what I want you to tell me about concerning this nomination for President Obama
1) What three aspects of Sonia Sotomayor's background impresses you the most and why?
2) What two aspects of Sotomayor's background are you least impressed with and why?
3) What type of judicial philosophy (liberal, moderate, conservative) will she have? What judicial decisions in her past would have you believe this?
4) Is she a good choice to be on the Supreme Court? Why? BE SPECIFIC
Well there is the first post. Enjoy!! One quick side note is I (Mr. Magness) am running the blog this weekend but I will be out of town until Sunday night. So make your post like you would but it will not be approved until Monday afternoon. So do not panic if your post is still not approved by Sunday. Make your post and then check back Monday or Tuesday to see if your post was approved. Remember to answer all the questions and have fun. Good Luck!!
The aspect of Sotomayor's background which most impresses me is undoubtedly her education. After graduating from high school as valedictorian, she went on to attend both Princeton University and Yale Law School. I am also impressed by the length of her career and her experience, as she has been appointed by both democrats (Bill Clinton) and Republicans (George H.W. Bush). Lastly, I was very impressed with her swift handling of the longstanding baseball strike of 1994. However, as impressive as some her of her background may be, equal parts of it are as damaging as their counterparts are striking. Her decision in the Ricci v. DeStefano lawsuit, for example, is probably as big a thorn in her side as it is in mine. I realize that she was only one of many members of the judicial panel to review the case, but she is the only one being nominated to the Supreme Court, and the decision she made was descriminatory and wrong. Sotomayor has also made defamatory remarks about decision making skills in regards to her ethnic background and gender. The job she has been nominated to undertake has little do with these things, and I was offended by her commentary.
ReplyDeleteBased on her statements and case rulings, I believe that Sonia Sotomayor subscribes to a moderate, yet left leaning, judicial philosophy. Her rulings in Ricci v. DeStefano, a 2006 felon-voting case, and Maloney v. Cuomo, a case in which she stated that the Second Amendment was not a fundamental right, all exhibit liberal leanings. However, her rulings in two abotion-rights cases, one in 2004 and one in 2007, as well as the free speech case of Pappas v. Giuliani indicate a less leftist point of view.
While her education and experience give her more than enough qualification for the job, I am still not impressed enough with Judge Sotomayor to consider her a good choice for the Supreme Court. Her record thus far, while somewhat moderate, still indicates a leftist approach to many issues, and I fear that President Obama has failed to nominate someone with what he himself referred to as the "common touch". Judge Sotomayor was also nominated on the grounds of "empathy", a characteristic I find damaging to the overall clout of the judicial system and Supreme Court. Still, for me, Judge Sotomayor's image was most marred by her statements regarding the decision making skills of Latina women versus those of white males. The fact that she finds these characteristics to be viable when it comes to a person's overall skill or ability is troubling.
1)What three aspects of Sonia Sotomayor's background impresses you the most and why?
ReplyDeletea. She is a woman with a Hispanic background and I think that it is good to have Hispanic people in the Supreme Court.
b.While she was raised by a single parent she was still able to graduate from Princeton University and later went to Yale Law School. This goes to show that just because people have one parent doesn’t give them an excuse not to do anything; if they are truly inspired to go forward and go onto college they will.
c.She received the M. Taylor Pyne Prize, which is the highest honor Princeton awards to an undergraduate. It goes to show that anybody can achieve what they aim for.
2) What two aspects of Sotomayor's background are you least impressed with and why?
I can say that I could not find anything in her past that did not impress me. I found it to be very interesting. Since she was a little kid she was brought up right to achieve anything she wanted and that education was a big important part of her life. I think she is and will continue to be a very intelligent woman.
3) What type of judicial philosophy (liberal, moderate, conservative) will she have? What judicial decisions in her past would have you believe this?
I think that she is in between being liberal and conservative. For example, she does not support abortion, she is against pro-choice, and she wrote her opinion about it which said that they should prohibit foreign organizations that received U.S. funds from performed or supported abortions.
4) Is she a good choice to be on the Supreme Court? Why? BE SPECIFIC
Yes, I think she is a good choice for the Supreme Court because of her experience and high knowledge. She is a very intelligent women that has received awards and graduated from very prestigious schools. She has served 11 years on the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, which is one of the most demanding circuits in the country. She has also handed down decisions on legal and constitutional issues. Therefore, I think she perfectly suits this role.
1. The impressive aspects of Sonia Sotomayor is simply the fact that she has enough experience and can work well with high-profile political figures such as President Obama. She has served 11 years in the political field, and has even had the chance to work as a federal judge under the ruling of President George H.W Bush. Also, she is a highly educated women who graduated valedictorian from her high school and had the chance to go to such a prestigious college- Yale Law, and Princeton. Lastly, i was highly impressed at the fact that there is a chance to have some diversification in the supreme court. I think that is highly important, because its what america is now. I think that the supreme court should represent america as it is, and i am really impressed that we can have diversification because it can help many americans feel so relatable to these people representing our country.
ReplyDelete2. Some things that don't like about Sonia Sotomayor is the fact that she did make sexist, and racial comments. I don't think that was professional of her because its attacking certain individuals for no reason. I understand that that might of been a long time ago, but with her track record, she shouldn't be letting her guard down for any second because it can come back and ruin her career. I understand that anyone can make mistakes and that it could have just been the wrong words, but when you dealing with political figures in washington D.C and your in the limelight, of course your going to be taking the wrong way. Also, i really don't agree with the fact that she disagrees with pro-choice because every women should have the right to decide what she wants to do with her own body. I think that if she is going to serve as the supreme court judge, she needs to have an open mind about everything because she can't disagree with something because she, herself doesn't agree with it.
3. I think Sonia stands on both sides, the liberal and conservative because she has served for both types. Honestly, it really isn't a bad thing, it mean's that she is versatile and can argue both sides to any case. Also, she looks at both sides instead of her favorite, and thats important, to side with what sounds logical and more of a proactive solution.
4. I think overall, Sonia Sotomayor will be a great choice because she is a minority and is relatable to many americans. She also has younger point of view, and is not out of touch with her constituents. She is also someone who didn't have everything in life handed down to her, she has real world experience and can relate to what many individuals are going through during these hard economic times. She can also be a role model for many young individuals because like i said before, she did come from the projects, but she graduated from both princeton and yale law, and received one of the highest honors given to an undergraduate. She shows young kids that it is possible to go to a iv league schools, because of your intelligence and not because of the money.
1)What three aspects of Sonia Sotomayor's background impresses you the most and why?
ReplyDeleteWhat impresses me the most about Sotomayor’s background would definitely be her education. She graduated as a valedictorian in her high school and extended her education to graduate from Princeton University summa cum laude in 1976 afterwards attended another prestigious school- Yale Law School.
Next thing that impressed me the most was her long range of political experience. Judge Sotomayor served 11 years on the federal bench- appointed by Bill Clinton, and served another 6 years as a federal judege-appointed by George H.W. Bush.
Finally her strive for success, through harsh times. As a child she lost her father and resorted to books for comfort. Her mother worked as a nurse, which means she probably had to take care of herself through some parts of the day. She also was diagnosed with diabetes, but never let it stop her from her dreams. She is an inspiring woman.
2)What two aspects of Sotomayor's background are you least impressed with and why?
I am not impressed by the fact that she is against pro-choice. In such a modern time she should let women decide what is right or wrong with their own body. We need someone who does have an open mind and will not judge on to others from the way she thinks is right, other than from what the law really is.
In certain cases she has made discriminatory remarks about her ethnic background and gender, the job she is being nominated for should not even consist of these qualities. It has nothing to do if you are a woman or Hispanic so I thought it was very foolish in her case, since it clearly offended people.
3)What type of judicial philosophy (liberal, moderate, conservative) will she have? What judicial decisions in her past would have you believe this?
I think she may be lingering in the moderate side. Her court abortion-cases and free speech cases tend to have a more conservative side, but at the same time she has stated in another case that second amendment is not a fundamental right, which is more liberal. So she is rashly in the middle.
4)Is she a good choice to be on the Supreme Court? Why? BE SPECIFIC
I believe that she would be a good choice for the Supreme Court because of her knowledge and past experience. Everybody has a bad case against them but that should not stop her from this nomination. She is also a Hispanic, and I believe it is about time to diversify the court and show Americas true colors of no borders. Her college education is by far the most impressive, and so is her work experience. I know she would be a great choice and role model.
1)Three aspects of Ms. sonia Sotomayor's background that I am impressed with is her years of service on the federal appeals bench,her intelligence and her chasing the American Dream. Sotomayor served eleven years on the federal appeals bench.I find that very impressive;especially because she was appointed by Bill Clinton and served as a federal judge under George H.W Bush. Her intelligence is impressive. Her intelligence shows her perseverance to become successful.She graduated as valedictorian from Blessed Sacrament and at Cardinal Spellman High School. I praise Ms. Sotomayor for chasing the American dream. The death of her father did not stop her from anything. She turned to books which inspired her to pursue law. She pushed and pushed to make her way to the top and I salute her. She proves that the American dream is truely achievable.
ReplyDelete2)I am impressed with Ms. Sotomayor's background.It is just her sexist and racist comment that she said was unacceptable. Her attacking another race was unprofessional.
No offense to anyone but it doesn't matter who you are, you should have enough respect to refrain from making an atrocious statement like that.
3)I believe she will have a moderate judicial philosophy because she really stands in the middle. Her views are varied to a conservative to a liberal point of view. For example, she stands on the conservative point of view for abortion. Another example is her ruling in a couple cases in the past stating that the Second Amendment is not a crucial right to everyone. This ruling is a leftist view and leaves her in the middle.
4)Sotomayor will be a great choice to be on the Supreme Court because she is highly educated and experienced woman. She attended prestigious schools and shows kids that success is achievable by intelligence. She has years of experience in the Federal court and makes her highly suitable to be on the Supreme Court.
1. There are many differnt aspects that one could admire in Judge Sotomayor. The fact that she came from a public housing project in the South Bronx is one of them. Another aspect is that she was a valedictorian at her high school and continued to graduate from Yale, summa cum laude, which turns out to mean with highest honor. The final thing that I admire about her is that she has served for both the liberals and the conservatives in the White House. This alone proves that she has some range and is highly likeable from both sides of the political spectrum.
ReplyDelete2. A few things have plagued Judge Sotomayor throughout her past rulings. The first would be the firefighter case. There were some people who did not score high enough on a test to get a promotion. Though, they passed, only the highest scores could receive this promotion. It was not right that others were penalized because of the ones who did not pass with the highest grades. Another thing that bothers me is that in not so specific words, she said the Supreme Court makes the laws. This is not true, the Court should only interpret the laws made.
3. Though, Judge Sotomayor is a Democrat, I feel that she will rule as a moderate leaning towards the conservative side. Her stance on abortion makes me feel that way. Judge Sotomayor is pro-life. Abortion is currently a hot topic amongst the two parties and pro-life is a Republican belief. Going both ways is not bad when it comes to politics. Having a moderate mind is a very smart way to go.
4. My personal belief is that she will not be a good choice. With her prior rulings, she has shown that she can be biased. A judge should have no way that he or she could lean in a case. It may give or take away an advantage to the litigants. Judges are supposed to be fair, keep an open mind, and not bring any preconceived ideas into a case. I think she will find it very difficult.
1. To me the 3 aspects that impress me the most are her many years of judicial service in the court system. As a graduate from Yale law school she has proven herself an independent thinker and a self relient person.She has served on both sides of the political spectrum and exemplifies she's cool on both sides. Sonya Sotomayor has shown her ability to climb out her own personal challenges from living in the projects to becoming a successful judge. Her ability to accomplish what is on her mind is very important in the judicial system.
ReplyDelete2. The 2 aspects that least impress me are the well known firefighter case which did not promote certain ones due to scores on their tests. Because they did not score high enough they did not get promoted. Another unimpressive aspect is her ruling in regards to the firefighter case which involved a lack of minorities in the group. When the case was brought to her court she ruled in favor to not allow those firefighters to continue their duties due to the lack of minorities. To me this raises questions about her ability to judge without bias.
3. I believe that she will most likely be somewhere towards the left because of who chose her. However, I feel she is a moderate thinker based on her stance on abortion. Sonya Sotomayor has shown a towards the middle thinking. I believe this is extremely important for a political career. I think this will be of a benefit to her and her chances of becoming a Supreme Court Justice.
4. Based on what I know of her I believe that she has plenty of years under her belt. With expierience she can go a long way. However her comment "the judicial system should be able to make the law as we go along" raised doubt in my mind as well as many others. Whether she has good judgement skills to make the right decisions. Perhaps we need to overlook all that and realize that everyone makes slips of the tongue. We need someone with work ethic and not just a perfecionist.
1)The three things that impress me the most about Sonia Sotomayor was her upringing, her education, and most of all her experience. She came from a single parent home from the South Bronx, New York. She was valedictorian of her class and attended Princeton and Yale, which is very impressive. Most of all her experience of over thirty years in law. She worked eleven years for Bill Clinton and six years for George W. Bush. She is very motivated and an amazing example of the American Dream.
ReplyDelete2)Two aspects that least impress me about Sotomayor is the case involving the fire departments of Connecticut and her comment about the supreme court making policy. I believe everyone should have equal rights and just because you are a minoritie you should not be given an uperhand. Sotomayor's comment about about judicials making policy was wrong. She should have not said that because it makes her look power hungry. These two aspects perceive Sonia Sotomayor as bias and power hungry.
3)I believe Sotomayor will be on the conservative side. Sonia has agreed with Republicans 95 percent of the time. Her pro-life views and indecision on abortion support this. She did participate in decision which prohibits sending money to groups in foreign countrys that support abortion. Her views on abortion and agreement with republicans makes Sotomayor more on the conservatie side.
4)I do believe she is a good choice for the Supreme Court. She has plenty of experience, her serviece on the federal appeals bench and work as a federal judge. Her education at Yale and Princeton which are one of the best schools in the country. Her diverse background makes her more relatable to the people. I think that she is also a change that we need in order to make better and fairer decisions in the Supreme Court.
When I first read a profile on Sonia Sotomayor, I was highly impressed by the fact that she was able to overcome many obstacles that life had placed in her way. It proves that she indeed is a strong woman because I do not think that many people would make something of themselves if they were challenged in life's journey at such a tender age. I am uncertain whether these circumstances are what motivated her enough to get such a fine education, but either way, her alma maters, Princeton and Yale, are some of the best in the nation. Lastly, Sonia Sotomayor, is highly experienced as a judge since she has been appointed by democratic and republican presidents alike.
ReplyDeleteI must disagree with the people who commented about her case rulings in certain cases. I do not believe that is unimpressive. If it were to be true, then that would ruin the integrity she has, but since I do not believe that is the case, then her integrity remains in tact. The only thing I find least impressive is her inability to move properly through the inside of an airport, since that is how she sustained her ankle fracture. I know what you're thinking, "How is this relevant?" Simple, she was in La Guardia airport in NYC on her way to Washington D.C. for a series of meetings with senators. I do not believe the Republicans were trying to sabotage Obama's nominee, she just had a rare slip-up. Very political indeed!
Although some of Sotomayor's stances seem to take a right-leaning ruling, there is evidence to the contrary. There is always a tendency between the nominees and the Presidents that have appointed them, that they will have similar political views. David Souter, who is retiring from the Supreme Court, is probably doing so during Obama's administration so he could appoint somebody with similar beliefs. Sure Souter was nominated by George H. W. Bush, but it has been known that David Souter has voted with the liberal wing of the Supreme Court more often than not. Thus, I can reach a safe conclusion that Sonia Sotomayor will take part in a more liberal (but not too extreme) school of thought.
First off, the hispanic in me says "You go, Sonia Sotomayor! You reach for those stars!" However, the A.P. U.S. Government student says, "No! You must analyze the situation first!" There have been controversial statements made by Sotomayor, but I believe they have been taken out of context by menacing people like Rush Limbaugh trying to find the slightest sign of a mishap by the Obama administration or anything in the least bit related to Obama. People have also claimed her rulings were biased and discriminatory, but I believe there is a legit reasoning behind her decisions. With all that said, she would make a great candidate and I have hope that she won't abuse her power or anything of that sort.
One more thing! In addition to my final paragraph, I would also like to restate that due to the fact that she attended Yale Law School and she is highly experienced in her field, she would make a decent and respectable Justice.
ReplyDelete1)What three aspects of Sonia Sotomayor's background impresses you the most and why?
ReplyDeleteThe main aspect that impresses me the most about Sonia Sotomayor's background is her experience. She has 11 years of experience with the law and that says a lot of what is expected of her. Another aspect of Sonia Sotomayor's background that impresses me is her education. Her work reflects off of her awards, scholorships, and determination to keep moving forward with her education to get where she is today. She was even valedictorian of her school. The last thing that impresses me the most about her is her ethnic background in general. Coming from a Puerto Rican family, born in a project housing program, and living through tough moments of her life, her background and where she came from is huge to what she can bring and inspire others.
2) What two aspects of Sotomayor's background are you least impressed with and why?
Honestly I found Sonia Sotomayor's background very interesting and impressive. I think she has come a long way and is moving forward in her career.
3) What type of judicial philosophy will she have? What judicial decisions in her past would have you believe this?
I believe that Sotomayor's philosophy will be one of which that is somewhat moderate because at times she follows up on a consensus vote and her past experiences and decisions have a great impact on what she will do in the future because she will be able to refer back to certain cases and that will hopefully help her make the right decisions.
4) Is she a good choice to be on the Supreme Court? Why?
I believe she will be a great asset to the Supreme Court and make contributions that will help others deal with difficult situations. I hope the fact of her being Hispanic and a woman will not affect the opinions of others in the way they portray her. She will be an important part of the future of the United States of America.
Three aspects of Sonia Sotomayor's background that impress me the most are first, her ability of not letting those obstacles hinder from achieving her dreams; secondly, her education, which is definitely at a great altitude, and lastly, her experiences with the American government. The reason why I am impressed by her ability of overcoming those obstacles is because
ReplyDeleteI've known many stories about people who were so motivated in attaining their goals in life, but unfortunately, unexpected incidents happen; therefore, they end up not reaching what they were trying to achieve. Despite the fact that she lost her father at an early age, she was still able to move on and reach her dreams. Regarding her education, I am truly impressed with her academic achievements as a valedictorian in high school, graduating summa cum laude at Princeton University, and a co-recipient of M. Taylor Pyne Prize. In addition, she was able to serve as an editor of the Yale Law Journal at Yale Law School. Pertaining to her experiences with the American Government, her 11 years of service on the federal appeals
bench and her 6 years as a federal judge during George H.W. Bush's administration are surely impressive because they show how committed she is with her career in the government.
I wasn't able to find information about Sonia Sotomayor that were least impressive to me since most of them were usually controversies containing unproven facts. Therefore, I don't think it is right for me to judge her using
inadequate information.
I think Sonia Sotomayor will have a moderate judicial philosophy. One reason is because of her past decision on international funding
for abortion, in which she didn't support the organizations created to help fund abortions.
I believe she is truly a good choice to be on the Supreme Court because she has many experiences of dealing with government issues. I also think she will be competent since she was
an excellent student at Princeton and Yale University, and it looks like she is a very committed person.
1.Sonia Sotomayor has an amazing background. First of all, she was able to make something out of herself even though she was living under difficult conditions. She didn't give up, instead she worked even harder to achieve her goals. The second thing that impresses me about her is her level of education. She's very intelligent and knows what she's talking about. The third aspect of her background that impresses me is her drive. She knew she could succeed at everything she tried if she just worked hard.
ReplyDelete2.I'm least impressed with her getting a promotion to Second Circuit by President Clinton. It's expected because she's good at what she does. There's no reason she shouldn't get to the highest positions. There's no other aspect of her background that i'm least impressed with. She's an incredible woman.
3.I believe she will have a moderate judicial philosophy. Many of her past decisions convey that. For example, in the abortion case, she dismissed the abortion rights group. In another case, she upheld the fact that a citizen could sue a private corporation. This shows that she has different views that will be beneficial to the Supreme Court.
4.I think she will be a great addition to the Supreme Court. She has more than enough experience to be qualified, and she's really smart. She went to Princeton & Yale, the one of the top schools in the world. She can also have a different view on the law because of her background.
1) What three aspects of Sonia Sotomayor's background impresses you the most and why?
ReplyDeleteI found Sonia Sotomayor’s background very interesting and that caught me by surprise on reading about how this woman has achieve her goals to success throughout all these past year‘s. What got my attention is how her education has overcome. Mrs. Sotomayor’s has gone to two of the greatest universities that can achieve anyone’s level of education. In addition, she also won a scholarship this proves how much Sotomayor cared and was focused on her apprenticeship. Second that influenced me about her was on how much she went through as a child. Being through so much heart aching with her loss and her diabetes problem, I know she is very strong and is not afraid to risk anything. The reason I say this is because she didn’t let herself fall down, it proved that she stayed strong, and she never gave up to reach where she standing right now. Lastly, Sonia’s ethnicity, she is Hispanic that comes from a Puerto Rican background. I am glad that finally there has been made a change that the first latina to enter in the supreme court
2)What two aspects of Sotomayor's background are you least impressed with and why?
One of the thing’s that grab my attention was the case with the firefighters. It was unfair the firefighters to not get promoted based on their race. This is upsetting because everyone deserves the same rights. That’s the only less impressive behind her background that caught my eye but thus far she is a woman that is admire.
3) What type of judicial philosophy (liberal, moderate, conservative) will she have? What judicial decisions in her past would have you believe this?
I believe she stands in between, as a liberal and conservative. As in the liberal side, she actually wants many changes to be made so many more opportunities can be given to young adults so they can achieve their dreams. While contrasting in the conservative side, Sotomayor belief in abortion. Republican’s are more concern about the cases in abortion, they are rather more pro-life. I’ve also noticed she is not afraid to speak her mind and her opinions are like a mixture between rightist and leftist.
4) Is she a good choice to be on the Supreme Court? Why? BE SPECIFIC
I actually do believe she is a good choice to be on the supreme court because she is highly educated. Sonia’s background says a lot about her and is a very intelligent woman that may bring a lot of unpredictable acts and opinions. I believe she will make a lot of differences with her addition in the supreme court. Sotomayor deserves this and should step in a farther step in her career.
So far all of you are on your way to finishing this blog assignment and are doing a great job. Two things: Please change your name to your first and last name and next time you guys dont need to re write the questions in the blog just establish it by the number...save you sometime. Thanks and GREAT JOB!!! Now start commenting if you like.
ReplyDelete1. First of all, the fact that she is Hispanic says a lot about her. In today's society, Hispanics are portrayed as uneducated human beings that have no future in front of them other than a construction or dishwasher job. Sotomayor is one of various Hispanics that got, or are about to get, prestigious governmental positions appointed by President Barack Obama. She showed America that Hispanics can, are willing, and will succeed as long as education becomes the main priority. Secondly, her exceptional educational background amazes anyone. In a time when Hispanics and African Americans hold the highest drop-out rate, Sotomayor illustrates what education leads to in the future. The fact that she was valedictorian of her class and her attendance to Princeton and Yale displays her willingness to succeed. Lastly, the way she embraced life after her father’s death. Her eagerness to keep moving forward without looking back inspires and impresses me to strive for something that I thought unreachable. I truly believe that she could be my third role model and I wish to one day reach that high.
ReplyDelete2. When it comes to the issue of abortion, I’m not really sure where I stand, but I am positive that I don’t support it. On aspect of Sotomayor’s background is her stance on abortion. She, in my opinion, tries to stand in the middle, but she lingers, according to the readings, on the pro-abortion side. I respect everybody’s point of views, yet I do not think that’s Sotomayor’s opinion. I think her work should focus more on preventing the abortion of the future. Other than that, I am impressed by her background and the way she handles issues or problems.
3.In general, I don’t like to point out people’s judicial philosophy because it’s their beliefs and they have the right to believe whatever they like, but from what I’ve seen so far I would have to say that she is probably Moderate. Why? In the case United States v. Reimer, Sotomayor concluded in an opinion that a man charged for working with Nazis in WWII and who was heavily involved in concentration camps (as a guard) should get his US citizenship revoked. A liberal judge would have concluded that the man be jailed for “x” amount of years. In contrast, a conservative judge would have done very little. In addition, in Hankins v. Lyght Sotomayor expressed her point of view when it comes to religious organizations’ process for electing their leaders. This case shows the long-time struggle held between the State and the Church and how they should remain separate from each other.
4. Yes, she is the best choice. Her dedication and background displays no major setbacks or controversies that would make me doubt that she would not do a good job in the Supreme Court. Also, she is a great example to follow for those who are interested in the law field. Her experience will prove to be beneficial to the Supreme Court as well as her point of views. President Barack Obama made the best decision by nominating Sonia Sotomayor for the Supreme Court.
1. The first aspect from Ms. Sotomayor's background is her education. She graduated from her high school as valedictorian and recieved a scholarship to Princeton and graduated as summa-cum laude. She was also a co-reipient of the M. Taylor Pine Prize, which is the highest honor that Princeton awards to any undergraduate. She has shown the women of the United States that we can do anything that we wish to do, and she has also inspired women to go beyond the norm and reach for the stars. Ms. Sotomayor has also gone to Yale Law School and was an editor for the Yale Law Journal.
ReplyDeleteThe second aspect that has impressed me from Sonia's background was upbringing. Even though her father died when she was nine, she did not let that ruin her life. Instead she read the Nancy Drew series and she was inspired to gain knowledge. Her upbringing also impressed me because her mother taught her the importance of education even though she wasn't able to get the kind of education that her children had the opprotunity to recieve. I think that her upbringing should inspire all races to not let a tragic event stop them from earning their education.
The last aspect that has impressed me is her work as a lawyer. Sonia has worked in every different kind of law. Right after law school, she became an assistant district attorney in New York City. She has worked in every kind of criminal case, from child abuse and fraud cases to rape and murder cases. She was almost always in the courtroom, and that showed that she was passionate about what she was doing.
2. I couldn't find any aspects that didn't impress me from her background. I think that she has been a great lawyer and judge and I think that she could influence all minorities and the women of this country to work hard to achieve any goals that they think that they cannot reach.
3. I think that Sonia will have a moderate judicial philosophy because she has some Republican views, like pro-life, but she also has some democratic views. I also think that she will have a moderate philosophy because she has not directly stated that she is for abortion, but she is greatly interested in gay rights and that has shown the people that she also has some Democatic views.
4. I think that Sonia Sotomayor is an excellent choice for the Supreme Court because she is one of the best. She is one of the best candidates because she has graduated with summa-cum-laude from Princeton, been a co-recipient of the highest honor that Princeton awards an undergradute. She has attended one of the most prestigious law schools in world. She has also worked on some of the toughest law cases and she has always held her ground, whether it's been in the courtroom or not. She has also shown both Democratic and Republican views and has inspired minorities and women all around the world.
1)As I have read many articles of Sonia Sotomayor, there has been many aspect of her that impresses me. The first would have to be her education, after her father death she was very involved with books and she got inspired by shows and people that made her make the decision to go for law. She graduated as a valedictorian at her high school. Secondly winning a scholarship to Princeton is something that impressed me not only that but her ambition and motivation to keep presuing her dream after graduating as an undergraduate she went to Yale and continued her studies. After that she became an Assistant District Attorney in Manhattan. Sonia worked every case there could be. Finally her stuggle though life. After reading the articles I define her as a stong woman because she got though her fathers death at a young age, for persuing her dreams. Also, after being diagnosed with diabetes she didn't let that slow her down in life.
ReplyDelete2)I believe Sonia Sotomayor is a great person, but there are a few things about her that I disagree with. One thing that I am not impressed with is the fact that she is against pro-choice. I believe every women has the right to think for themselves and to have the same rights as men do, because when I get older I do not want to be limited because I am a female I want to have the same right as every men has. Secondly I do not agree with her decision of abortion I believe that every women has the right to do with their body as they please. I believe no one can tell you what to do with your body.
3)My opinion is that Sonia Sotomayor is conserative because she is has a bit of both moderate and liberal ideas. What led me to believe this is what are her opinions on abortion and gay rights. Sonia has many different points of view that are going to be very helpful in the long run of her career if she wins for the position nominated in the Supreme Court
4)I believe that Sonia Sotomayor is a great candidate for the Supreme Court. I think she is a well educated woman that has what it takes to uphold this position. She has showed that she is capable of it by going to great schools and graduating top of her class and showing that she can work with anything that comes her way. Also, I believe that Sotomayor has motivation to uphold this position. Eventhough I disagree with somethings that she believes in I feel like she is the best candidate for this position.
You guys can keep commenting on this topic but the answers will now be closed off. The new topic will be posted Friday or Saturday. Great job so far guys. Remember change your profile name to your first and last name so you can get the credit.
ReplyDeleteHey Maurell,
ReplyDeleteI agree with your comment about not being impressed with Sonia's decision to be against pro-choice. It seems unfair because being pro-life is kind of saying that if a woman gets raped, molested, or she can't take care of her child, she has no choice but to have her baby and take care of it. It's so messed up. Like if she couldn't raise a child, she would be contradicting herself. But, on the other hand, she has accomplished so much even though she grew up without a mother. It must have been hard but that motivates me to better.
I think that she will be a good Supreme Court Justice. Just being a woman and being of the minority race influences women to not become statistics. She has also dealt with diabetes and she has experienced so many levels of the law. It's amazing that she has gotten appointed to high government jobs by Republicans and Democrats. Usually, only Republicans or Democrats nominate one person.
1)Sonia Sotomayor's educational background, stregth, and experience are what impresses me exeedingly. For a minority to excel in education is a big achievement. Graduating hold the title of valedictorian and then on to Princeton and following Yale Law School. That alone amazes me. On top of all that, she was fighting diabetes and without a father the whole entire time. I can relate to her in that aspect and here she is today. After reading the article in a sense Sonia became a role model for me.
ReplyDelete2)One of the things about Sonia I didn't care to much for was her veiw on abortions. Yes, abortions is a very touchy subject, but honestly i believe that every woman/girl should have the choice, because it is their body and their life that it will affect in the long run. However i do not believe abortion should continue to be a form of birth control. But other than that i wasnt too offended by anything else.
3)In the articles it doesn't exactly come out and state what judicial philosophy she follows, but i can infer that she is moderate, because she has some of both liberal and conservative. One of the big things that gave it away for me was her pro-life and gay marriage statements. And also what made me believe she wasn't liberal was because in the first article, it said that she wasn't the most liberal among the candidates.
4)I really don't see why she wouldn't be fit for the job. She obtains the knowledge, I believe that to her that wouldn't just be a title to wear as being the "first hispanic woman" in the Supreme Court, but she would take pride in her job and be competent in such. All the work that she has done to get to this postion, i am sure she wouldn't blow it. I trust Obama's judgement and I also believe everything happens for a reason.
Cesar,
ReplyDeleteI have to say I liked how you described and had supported details on why Sotomayor had you very impressed. I couldn’t had said it better myself. I agree where you mentioned the highest drop-out rate with Hispanics and African Americans because you had a major reason to point that out on how Sotomayor has succeeded all those past years. She has gone through difficult patches and I must say even I can consider her as a role model for her willingness to keep moving on without not looking back. Sonia Sotomayor is someone who deserves the best of all.
Another point I liked is how you described the cases Sotomayor has been involved. I’ve noticed that many were only mentioning the case with the firefighters, like I also did in my post. Those cases I didn’t gave them much of importance but after reading your comment I realized these are also cases that demonstrate on how Sotomayor’s can possibly be more as a moderate. So I must say, I have to give credit on your post because you gave many details and supported your perspective among Sonia Sotomayor. Overall, I agree on what you talked about and I also believe Sotomayor is a good choice for the supreme court because on how much she has achieve and her dedication to influence America today.
This comment is in regards to Saul’s response:
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with Saul when he said that he was impressed with her education. Being valedictorian of your class is a heavy and hard task to complete. Going to such prestige schools is a very impressive thing. I think that she is a hard worker and she will do an amazing job. Knowing what you are doing is another great skill you must acquire; Sonia Sotomayor knows what she is doing!
When you are in any job you grow as a person. I think Sonia will continue to grow. She will listen to others and represent us. Sonia is a person that can continue on through hardship. Our country is in a difficult time right now, and for anyone that is trying to fix it, and help I applaud them.
1. Three things that impress me the most from Sonya Sotomayor is childhood. When she was young she was faced with the death of her father, but instead she found strength in reading books. By doing this she realized she wanted to major in laws. Another impressive fact is her high education. She was a valedictorian, but that was not all she graduated from two of the best schools in the USA. She graduated from Yale University and Princeton University. To me that is very impressive and demonstrates her capacity to achieve her dreams. The last thing is her experience gained over thirty years in law. She also worked eleven years with Bill Clinton, but that is not all she also worked for George W. Bush for six years.
ReplyDelete2. Two things I am least impressed with is the discriminatory remarks she has given regarding both her ethnicity and gender. The position she was nominated for does not consist of being male or female not black, white or hispanic. She should be proud of herself for her achivements her goals the way she is. Another aspect is her way of thinking. She does not favor pro-choice, but in modern times a women should have the option of chosing what her future will be. Women shoul not have to be neglected the choice because they can realize what is best for them.
3.I don't think Sonya Sotomayor favor any group.I do believe her being a moderate judicial philosopher because she stands in the middle. The decisions of her cases vary. Sometimes she leans towards conservatives and other times to liberal.
4.I believe Sonya Sotomayor is by far one of the best candidates to join the Supreme Court. Her knowledge as well as her education are key regarding the experience she has had in the past. She will be a great addition to the supreme court because it is not a man, but a woman who is capable of being equally fair in her job as she has being doing it. Another thing is that her being open minded to issues, she does not have a preference, but knows a good solution. At last, she will be part of a new change to the supreme court.
1. One thing about Sotomayor that impressed me was the fact that before her nomination was announced the National Organization for Women was going to launch a campaign to help her be nominated. Another impressive achievement of her's was that she was awarded the M. Taylor Pyne Prize. Third most impressive was her vast and varied judicial experience compared the justices of the Supreme Court.
ReplyDelete2. There was really only thing about Sotomayor that didn't impress me. It was that she supports affirmative action, which seems to hinder the idea that the U.S. is equal for all.
3. Sotomayor is very moderate for the most part and although there are some case where she seems to make a liberal ruling, she also seems to have some conservative views on other issues, such as abortion.
4. I believe that Sotomayor is indeed a good choice to be a Supreme Court Justice. She is very intelligent, the fact that she graduated Princeton and Yale Law is a testament to her intelligence. She also has a wealth of judicial experience in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Of which, would be very important to someone in the Supreme Court.
This comment is in regard to Wayne:
ReplyDeleteSonya Sotomayor would be a great addition to the Supreme Court Justice. Her experience demonstrates that sh ehas what it takes. Through the years she has been a judge, she has done an excellent job. I agree a judge has to be fair, and she is. The cases she has done can be proofs of her work background.
Wayne, what do you mean by lean to either side? A judge cannot take anyone's side because she must do whats right. At both sides of the story, one side can sound more convincing; however, it is up to her to make the right choice. If she has been promoted to being part of the Supreme Court she has to be more than capable of handling the responsability.
This comment is regards to Mekdelawit:
ReplyDeleteI agree with her, I highly believe she has the education needed. Her hardwork paid off by assisstng two of the most important universities. Through her education she has had many achievements. She has open her the way to become successful. She is an inspiration to other people so that they can achieve what they want.
I also believe she can make a difference. Her ethnic background is something new to the supreme court. Also because she is a hispanic woman she demonstrated that gender is does not matter. She did her best and in exchange to that she gained many opportunities. She is an inspirational woman as well as a role model and for that she deserve to be part of the Supreme Court.
This is in regards to Dave’s response:
ReplyDeleteYou said: “With expierience she can go a long way. However her comment "the judicial system should be able to make the law as we go along" raised doubt in my mind as well as many others.” I think that you are interpreting this statement the wrong way. We – as America- have been making laws as we go along throughout history. People create laws and it is up to the assembly and senate to either pass or kill a bill. Bills turn into laws and we don’t have a time frame to make bills. Hopefully that doubt is removed now.
Also, you said: “Perhaps we need to overlook all that and realize that everyone makes slips of the tongue. We need someone with work ethic and not just a perfecionist.” This got me confused because I don’t know your position on the question. You are contradicting your self and I don’t know if you like her or not. When you said however, you made a point that showed that you didn’t like her. Then later you said you think you need to overlook a comment which makes me think you like her. Do you think she would be a good choice to be on the Supreme Court?
This comment is towards Wayne Holt:
ReplyDeleteEven though Sonia Sotomayors' past decisions have shown a biased ruling, I believe she will have what it takes to be straight about her decision makings in the court room and put her feelings aside. I believe there are situations where empathy comes into play and sometimes you can not help it, but nevertheless you have to play fair.
Jocelyn,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you when you say that you are impressed with her educational background. I think that her background is very impressive. And I also agree with you with the fact that you like that she is from a Hispanic background. It is nice to have someone in the supreme court that is Hispanic. I hope that with her being there that she will help out the Hispanics that are in need.
Lastly, I agree with the fact that you couldn’t see anything wrong with her because I couldn’t either. From what we have seen and from what she has showed us , she is a great role model, especially for Hispanics.
Chynna,
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you when you said that you disliked the fact that Sotomayor made a racist comment. Although many Latinas do live through a hard life, I don’t think she should have made that comment. Not only Latinas live a hard life, there are many different racial groups that may have a harder life. The fact that she is Latina and that she didn’t have an easy life didn’t give her the right to make that statement.
I also agree with you when you say that Sotomayor would make a great choice for the Supreme Court. I too think that she has the experience and the knowledge to be a great addition to the Supreme Court. I think she will do a great job.
1. The three aspects that amaze me the most from Sotomayor’s back ground are her intelligence, discipline, and maturity level. First Sotomayor was really smart for turning to books at a really young age, especially because many people would probably have taken the wrong choice. Sotomayor’s discipline is something to admire because she was raised by a single parent and Sotomayor by herself continue to be very dedicated to school no matter what grade she was in. Third thing that impresses me that most is her level of maturity and take care about the things that happen in her life such as; her dad’s death, her diagnosed with diabetes, and her mother raising her with a little economic income.
ReplyDelete2. Least impressed with having to live only with her mother from a really young age or the fact of not being rich or wealthy when she was younger. My reasoning is because I seen many cases like this one, but obviously with people with less problems but in very similar cases. My believe is that it mainly depends in the person and the level of achievement also depends in every case and with every person.
3. Sotomayor’s philosophy has to be definitively moderate and a bit conservative. She was born to think and analyze the situation. Life made her strong and her pass will not fence her from being conservative. Sotomayor will be moderate because life was harsh with her as a young individual bringing her obstacles , but over coming the obstacles is an example to her the people can take right choices when they are provided with a second chance. However she is going to be tough because she literally has gone through everything and she knows life is hard and requires sacrifices.
4. Very good choice because not only her education but mainly her passion and experience. Is very eminent to see the she is passionate about laws and government because of the extra curricular activities and volunteer work she did when she was young. She is not like the rest of people who worry about finishing college and just have a good title, hers was something like a talent and sort of like a passion because she seems to dedicate her life to obtain more and more knowledge and experience, and that is what counts.