During a recent engagement at the Radcliffe Institute at Harvard University, Justice Sonia Sotomayor openly expressed her feelings of frustration and emotion as a liberal jurist on a predominantly conservative Supreme Court. She conveyed the toll that the current judicial climate has taken on her, noting, “There are days that I’ve come to my office after an announcement of a case and closed my door and cried. There have been those days. And there are likely to be more.”
Justice Sotomayor emphasized the importance of resilience in the face of such challenges, stating, “Throughout our history, men and women have given up their lives to secure our freedom and to promote our equality. There is no one in this room who’s entitled to give up now. Even I feel desperation. We all do. But you have to own it, you have to accept it, you have to shed the tears and then you have to wipe them and get up.”
These heartfelt comments were part of her address where she acknowledged her emotional struggles while underscoring a broader commitment to justice and equality. The gathering also marked an occasion for Sotomayor to receive the 2024 Radcliffe Medal, an honor previously bestowed upon former Justices Sandra Day O’Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
For a more detailed account of her remarks, you can read the complete article on Above the Law.