The Supreme Court is in a crisis of credibility. And they have themselves to blame.
Now SCOTUS Justice Sotomayor humiliated the Court by wading into this political issue.
Undermining Judicial Clarity
Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor appeared on The View, discussing the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision and other rulings, raising concerns about their impact on public trust.
When co-host Sunny Hostin asked why she views these decisions as threats to freedoms, Sotomayor urged Americans to read both majority and dissenting opinions, stating, “The price we pay is whatever is happening today, as I indicated, is going to affect a lot of people. But it affects your future.”
She warned, “Once we have approved it, it sets a precedent that can be, in your judgment, because in the end you are the people affected, right? Really bad.”
Critics argue her fixation on preserving precedent resists necessary legal corrections, fostering a narrative that fuels public distrust in the Court’s ability to adapt to modern needs.
Overcomplicating Court Decisions
When co-host Sara Haines asked what surprised her most about serving on the Court, Sotomayor replied, “How hard each case is,” adding:
“When you read a majority opinion, it sounds totally convincing. It does. Because for you to sign on to a decision, you have to believe what you are signing on to. Read the dissent. Read the other side, and it will tell you how hard these questions are. Don’t ever think there’s a simple answer. There isn’t.”
She further noted, “There’s one side wins, another side, what’s the opposite of win? Loses. The person who loses is losing something they thought was important.”
Her emphasis on the complexity of cases, while accurate, is seen by detractors as an attempt to muddy the Court’s responsibility to provide decisive, constitutionally grounded outcomes, weakening public confidence in its authority.
Critics view Sotomayor’s framing as an effort to deflect scrutiny from her liberal-leaning dissents, which often resist shifts that align with broader societal changes, casting her as out of touch with the Court’s evolving role.
Fueling Political Polarization
Sotomayor’s appearance on The View follows Democratic calls for her retirement before President Donald Trump’s January inauguration to prevent him from appointing another justice. Appointed by President Barack Obama in 2009, Sotomayor is one of three liberal justices on the Court.
Her warnings about rulings like Dobbs and immigration raids, as noted by Hostin, aim to address eroding public trust but are criticized for politicizing the judiciary. By airing concerns on a partisan platform, she risks exacerbating divisions, framing the Court’s work as inherently destabilizing rather than constitutionally driven.
