opinion
In an interview on Monday, far-left U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor said she feels “frustrated” every day because she believes conservative justices are causing an ideological shift in America.
She believes that right-leaning Supreme Court justices are pushing the United States ideologically to the right.
RELATED: Jay Leno 'isn't a fan' of Trump, but attacks Democrats for trying to keep him off the ballot
“Every loss shocks me.”
Sotomayor made her remarks at an event at the famously left-leaning University of California, Berkeley Law School.
While taking questions, the judge was asked how she dealt with the court's conservative rulings.
“Every loss really traumatizes me,” she replied, but “I wake up the next morning,” according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
The audience, mostly students, praised this answer.
Hill reports:
In her remarks, Merkel criticized her “original colleagues” who she said had come up with “new ways of interpreting the constitution,” and changing provisions “that some of us believe are well-established,” the Chronicle reported.
The 6-3 conservative court has had two eventful terms, leaving its mark on some of the most important aspects of daily life — from striking down the federal right to abortion to ruling that affirmative action in colleges is unconstitutional.
But Sotomayor also conveyed a message of hope to the crowd, prompting them to take heart in the difference they can make.
“Change never happens by itself. Change happens because people care about moving the arc of the universe toward justice,” Sotomayor said.
Inadvertently, the judge admitted that she was an activist in her approach to the law.
“It is now your turn to bear this burden,” she told the audience.
“What choice do you have but to fight the good fight?” She said.
There may be different definitions of what constitutes “good” fights.
RELATED: Sen. Tim Scott will serve as Trump's surrogate in outreach to black voters
Fighting the good fight must mean protecting the Constitution
There are more originalists on the Supreme Court than ever before, due in large part to Donald Trump's appointments.
“Originalism” means actually following the Constitution rather than theorizing one's decisions to reach their ideological goals.
Reaching their ideological ends is precisely the meaning of Sotomayor's phrase about “moving the arc of the universe toward justice.” For her, this means a complete shift in American law and values.
Some recent decisions have produced more conservative results because that is what following the Constitution requires.
Preserving the language and integrity of America's governing charter – especially in the Supreme Court – is perhaps the most important battle of all.
Now is the time to support and share the sources you trust.
The Policy Insider ranks third on Feedspot's “Top 100 Political Blogs and Websites” list.
