David Souter Retiring, Obama gets to make first SCOTUS pick

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

I'd also, like those of you who've already said so, like to see people promoted and evaluated based on their accomplishments. I find the idea of using identity and ability for empathy kind of troubling standards in the judicial system, but Obama's been pretty open about using them.

The thing is, he's said that, but Sotomayor (as well as the other rumored nominees) is extremely qualified. Yeah, she may have the "ability for empathy," whatever that means, but she's also got one heck of a resume.

That's part of my problem, which I think was echoed by Munchkin - by focusing on these touchy feely things, it ends up seeling someone short who has the brains and professional background for the job (like Sotomayor). At the end of the day, the reason she is up for the spot is mostly because of her accomplishments.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

The thing is, he's said that, but Sotomayor (as well as the other rumored nominees) is extremely qualified. Yeah, she may have the "ability for empathy," whatever that means, but she's also got one heck of a resume.

That's part of my problem, which I think was echoed by Munchkin - by focusing on these touchy feely things, it ends up seeling someone short who has the brains and professional background for the job (like Sotomayor). At the end of the day, the reason she is up for the spot is mostly because of her accomplishments.

[Edited to reflect my re-reading what you all said]

I honestly have no opinion about her experience. I don't know much about her. I'm not nearly as into SCOTUS (or courts generally) as you are. My general impression as a conservative is that there were far worse judges out there and she's going to be confirmed so let it ride.

Rather than "ability for empathy,"Obama's words, according to a NYT column were, “'I will seek someone who understands that justice isn’t about some abstract legal theory or footnote in a casebook; it is also about how our laws affect the daily realities of people’s lives.' That kind of judge, Obama explained, will have empathy: “I view the quality of empathy, of understanding and identifying with people’s hopes and struggles as an essential ingredient fo arriving at just decisions and outcomes.'” (I googled and used this because it's quoted in the NYT; I haven't even read the whole column it's quoted in:http://fish.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/0...w/?ref=opinion)

I think he's set her nomination up to be framed that unfortunate way for sure, but there's a big part of his base, as Munchkin notes, that's into that.