Sonia Sotomayor

The progression of my life has been uniquely American.

The question of how to do that and whether that's right by the court would be a question that Congress... would have to... think about changing.

I can only explain what I think judges should do, which is judges can't rely on what's in their heart.

I do not believe a judge should act in an unprincipled way, but I recognize that both the Doctrine of Starry Decisis starts from a presumption that deference should be given to precedence.

My mother taught us that the key to success in America is a good education.

I have had positive experiences with cameras.

I can assure your constituents that I have a completely open mind on this question.

Diversity on the bench is good for America.

The issue was whether or not employees who were a member of a disparately impacted group had a right under existing precedent to bring a lawsuit.

A judge should never rule from fear. A judge should rule from law and the Constitution.

Our society would be straitjacketed were it not--were not the courts, with the able assistance of the lawyers, constantly overhauling the law and adapting it to the realities of ever-changing social, industrial, and political changes.

As a judge, what I have to look at and realize is that in 30 years or 40, actually, there has been--excuse me, Senator. I'm sorry----

Can elected officials say with credibility that they are carrying out the mandate of a democratic society representing only the general public good when private money plays such a large role in their campaigns?

Work at explaining to the--to the public what the process is.

What governs always is the Constitution.

The law that lawyers practice and judges declare is not a definitive, capital `L' law that many would like to think exists.

As I said, I--I am hesitant of prejudging and saying they will or won't, because that will be what the parties are going to be arguing in the litigation.

In fact, I know that in my 17 years on the bench, other than applying it in treaty interpretation or conflicts of law situations, that I have not cited to foreign law.

I didn't disagree with what I understood was the basic premise that Justice O'Connor was making, which was that being a man or a woman doesn't affect the capacity of someone to judge fairly or wisely.

a judge had to come to the process understanding the importance and respect the Constitution must receive

The Minnesota Supreme Court has given us an example of that.

words that don't make sense.

Judges must transcend their personal sympathies and prejudices and aspire to achieve a greater degree of fairness and integrity based on the reason of law.

The doctrine of stare decisis is a doctrine that looks to the value in the stability, consistency, predictability of precedent.

Well, the government can remedy a social problem that it is identifying or difficulty.