I am an ordinary person who has been blessed with extraordinary opportunities and experiences.
Sonia SotomayorRead
All of the legal defense funds out there, they're looking for people out there with court of appeals experience, because court of appeals is where policy is made. And I know, I know this is on tape and I should never say that because we don't make law, I know. I know.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the importance of court of appeals experience in shaping legal policy.
In this quote, Sonia Sotomayor emphasizes the role of court of appeals judges in influencing and creating legal policy, suggesting that their decisions carry significant weight in the legal landscape. Although she acknowledges the distinction between making law and interpreting it, she points out that the court of appeals is a critical arena where important legal precedents are established.
Themes
LegalPolicyCourtAppealsLaw
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used during a legal seminar to illustrate the impact of court rulings on policy.
More from Sonia Sotomayor
All quotes →This wealth of experiences, personal and professional, have helped me appreciate the variety of perspectives that present themselves in every case that I hear.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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