Justice Sotomayor Apologizes for Comments Regarding Justice Kavanaugh

Justice Sonia Sotomayor made a notable apology on Wednesday, admitting that she had criticized the background of her conservative colleague, Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

Sotomayor expressed her regret through a statement from the Supreme Court, acknowledging that her remarks during an event at the University of Kansas School of Law were inappropriate. Her comments were directed at an opinion written by Kavanaugh last year concerning the Trump administration’s approach to immigration enforcement in Los Angeles.

“During a recent court appearance at the University of Kansas School of Law, where I discussed a disagreement with one of my colleagues on a previous case, I made inappropriate comments,” Sotomayor stated. “I regret the hurtful comments I made. I have apologized to my colleagues.”

Earlier, Sotomayor had critiqued certain opinions from her fellow justices without naming them. She referenced another opinion she found troubling, indicating a disconnect with the reality faced by hourly workers.

“In that case, my colleague wrote, ‘You know, this is only a temporary suspension,'” she remarked, implying a lack of understanding from someone with a privileged background. “This is coming from a guy whose parents were professionals, and you probably don’t actually know anyone who works hourly.”

Sotomayor’s comments stemmed from a Supreme Court ruling last September, which permitted the Trump administration to resume immigration enforcement in Los Angeles after lifting a lower court’s block. Kavanaugh had sided with the court’s conservative majority in that decision, while Sotomayor dissented. Presently, the Supreme Court holds a 6-3 conservative majority.

This legal decision was a response to a request by the Trump administration made in August, seeking to prevent a lower court ruling that restricted immigration officials from considering factors such as race or job type during operations. The administration argued that the judiciary should not “micromanage” immigration enforcement in areas with significant undocumented populations.