Opinion: Sotomayor hearings: The judge explains the ‘wise Latina’ speech

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With some understatement, Sonia Sotomayor told the Judiciary Committee this morning that “no words I have ever spoken received so much attention.”

She was referring to the “wise Latina” speech in which, referring to Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, she said, “Justice O’Connor has often been cited as saying that a wise old man and wise old woman will reach the same conclusion in deciding cases . . . I am also not so sure that I agree with the statement.

“First, as professor Martha Minnow has noted, there can never be a universal definition of wise. Second, I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn’t lived that life.”

Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy said her critics had twisted her meaning in that speech and, as the first questioner of today’s confirmation hearing, told her it was time to answer those critics.

“Here’s your chance,” he said. “You tell us what’s going on here, judge.”

Sotomayor said the comment was in a speech — or a variation of a speech — she often delivered to groups of women or young Latino students and lawyers.

“I was trying to inspire them to believe that their life experience would enrich the legal system.” Different backgrounds always do, she said.

She was trying, she said, to “inspire them to become anything they wanted to become.” Her comment, she admitted, has created “a misunderstanding.”

Saying she wanted to be clear and up front, Sotomayor said that “I do not believe” that any racial, ethnic or gender group has an advantage in sound judgment. The law, she said, guides a judge.

-- Steve Padilla

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