There’s something about Sonia Sotomayor being sworn in as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court that just lightens my spirit.
Whenever I think about all the problems with US society on every level, I find an antidote to my depression at the thought of a chica from the projects in South Bronx following a path not only out but by way of Princeton to the highest court in the land. I mean, what a country!
The Supreme Court is a linchpin in the checks & balances system the Founding Fathers established (well, it really is since Marbury v. Madison). The principle of judicial review is what really restrains the tendencies of the executive & the legislative branches to go cuckoo.
(I once had a conversation with a Brit about checks & balances; she didn’t know what I was talking about. My comment: “You mean, the only redress you have against crack-brained laws are the very whackjobs who enacted them?” Well, yes.)
The spectacle of Sotomayor’s Senate appearances, & the party-line voting on her confirmation just reminded me of how crucial it is to have the Court. Pols whose most important job in their minds is getting re-elected every two or six years should not be entrusted with unrestricted lawmaking power. The ‘Pubs, as could be expected, seized like manic terriers on some speeches Sotomayor had given about that wise Latina & pontificated as only the ‘Pubs can do when they don’t have anything of substance to talk about. (They also focused on three—out of scores—decisions she made while on the Federal bench.)
It will be interesting to see how those in states with high Hispanic populations do in their next election cycle, because, faced with the proverbial two masters, they pandered to the party rather than to the electorate.
Anyhow, Sotomayor was sworn in today, gave her family a tour of the office & then went to a barbecue in Annandale. God bless America.
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