When Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor appeared earlier this week at the University of California, Berkeley Law School, she expressed fatigue and frustration that many legal professionals can likely relate to. Stating that she’s “working harder than I ever had” and is “tired” of the current situation, Justice Sotomayor discussed how the workload and rate of consequential decisions in the Supreme Court have increased. This public articulation of her feelings provides an intimate view of the pressures and challenges currently faced by the highest court in the country.
During her talk, as reported by Bloomberg Law, she gave an insight into the ramped-up workload, which in her view is a result of the conservative majority’s efforts to rewrite American case law. She highlighted an increased number of significant cases, the growing body of amici, and an “emergency calendar” that is busy almost weekly. This high-intensity environment has all but eliminated previous breaks in the summer.
Sotomayor also lauded the importance of perseverance, despite the personal and professional challenges. “What choice do you have but to fight the good fight? You can’t throw up your hands and walk away,” she said, making it clear that to her, backing down is not an option, but instead, a betrayal of her role. She emphasized that each loss “truly traumatizes” her, but that it’s essential to “keep on fighting”, despite the difficulties.
These reflections give a unique window into the pressures at the apex of the American legal system and act as a reminder of the tireless effort required to fulfil roles in such high-stakes environments. Justice Sotomayor’s candidness provides an essential perspective on the reality of operationalising justice in a rapidly changing landscape.