Political Quotes

Sonia Sotomayor: It helps you listen and understand. It doesn't change what the law is or what the law commands.

On the recordMay 7, 2009
It helps you listen and understand. It doesn't change what the law is or what the law commands.
Said by
Sonia Sotomayor
New York

Editor's note · Context

Sotomayor discusses how life experiences influence the judging process without altering the law.

Share

More from Sonia Sotomayor

Jul 14, 2025

Congress created the Department, and only Congress can abolish it.

huffpost.com
Jun 30, 2026

Today, the Court discards that democratic regime in favor of one that distorts the structure of Government to fit the majority’s theory of unitary, total executive control.

talkingpointsmemo.com
Jul 1, 2026

Because of the Court’s decision today, West Virginia, and any other state actor, can deny B. P. J. and others like her these experiences simply because it thinks they have an inherent athletic advantage, even if the facts show that they do…

huffpost.com
Jul 14, 2025

Because I cannot condone such abuse of our equitable authority, I respectfully dissent.

newsweek.com

Other voices in this conversation