Justice Sonia Sotomayor
A year ago, I shared my plan to write about each of the female Supreme Court justices. I began with a blog post about Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, and then wrote about Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in April.
Today, I turn to Justice Sonia Sotomayor, now that I’ve finished reading her fascinating autobiography, My Beloved World. When I started this book, I wasn’t sure what it would entail, other than a clinical, matter-of-fact account of her background and ascension to the United States Supreme Court. After all, how could you expect much else from a sitting justice?
I couldn’t have been more wrong. Her autobiography was heartwarming and touching, full of personal insights and wisdom. She shared the heartbreaking pain of growing up with an alcoholic father and distant mother, the cross-cultural experience of growing up in a Spanish-speaking Puerto Rican family, the difficulties she endured after being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes as a child, and her incredible path from a Bronx housing project to the highest court in the land.
As I read the book, I was struck by the fact that Justice Sotomayor is a remarkable woman in many respects, not the least of which is her ability to engage in genuine, honest self-reflection. Very few people have the capacity — or willingness — to do so privately, let alone publicly. That someone as intelligent and exceptional as Justice Sotomayor did so, and then chose to share her learnings with the world, is so unusual, and such a wonderful gift.
From start to finish, her tale was was both touching and brilliant, full of astute guidance on relationships, family, law school, the practice of law, legal careers, navigating racism and sexism, and much, much more. As I read the book, I sometimes teared up, often nodded in agreement, and repeatedly made notes in the margins each time I encountered particularly perceptive, enlightened advice, which she offered on a surprisingly wide range of topics.
Upon conclusion of the memoir, it was her wisdom that I appreciated the most. So for the remainder of this post, I’ll share with you those insights that I found to be most memorable.
First, there’s her perspective on effective political expression, a position that resonated with me and merits some reflection, especially in today’s world, where near-weekly rallies have become the norm:
(T)roubling the waters (is) occasionally necessary to bring attention to the urgency of some problem. But this style of political expression sometimes becomes an end in itself and can lose potency if used routinely. If you shout too loudly and too often, people tend to cover their ears. Take it too far and you risk that nothing will be heard over the report of rifles and hoofbeats.
She provided great advice on preparing witnesses for litigation. While specifically aimed at prosecutors, it’s a tip that is universally applicable, so litigators (and prospective litigators) take note:
Preparing witnesses is an art form. As a prosecutor you learn that you can’t tell witnesses what to say or not to say: they will blurt out the damndest things when they’re in court. Instead the purpose of coaching is to help them understand the reason behind each question so that you’re working as a team to communicate their relevant knowledge to jurors.
She also described the unfortunate reality of lawyer burnout. While her comments were directed toward prosecutors, I would suggest that in many ways they are equally applicable to litigators generally, and even lawyers as whole. Our training affects our outlook, often not in a positive way — hence the high incidence of addiction, depression, and suicide amongst lawyers. She aptly described one of the reasons for this phenomenon as follows:
All around me I saw personalities darkened by cynicism and despair. Trained in suspicion, skilled at cross-examining, you will look for the worst in people and you will find it.
Another insight she offered focused on the unique challenges that women lawyers often face. She adeptly described the essence of a conflict that I encountered earlier in my career and it’s one that I often hear other women lawyers express in one form or another:
Most women of my generation who entered professional life did not forgo motherhood, and many did succeed at both. But they paid the price, one still paid by most women who work outside the home (and men, too, I believe, if they parent wholeheartedly): a life of perpetual internal compromise that leaves you always feeling torn, neglectful by turns of one or the other.
Another lesson learned from Justice Sotomayor is the value of savoring life and viewing it an opportunity to grow and learn:
With every friend I’ve ever known, in every situation I’ve encountered, I have found something to learn. From a task as simply as boiling water, you can learn a worthwhile lesson. There is no experience that can’t avail something useful, be it only the discipline to manage adversity.
And last, but not least, I leave you with her perspective on living a full life, which is informed by her experience as a lifelong diabetic:
(D)iabetes has become more manageable and I no longer fear falling short in the tally of years. But the habit of living as if in the shadow of death has remained with me, and I consider that, too, a gift.
Nicole Black is a Rochester, New York attorney and the Legal Technology Evangelist at MyCase, web-based law practice management software. She’s been blogging since 2005, has written a weekly column for the Daily Record since 2007, is the author of Cloud Computing for Lawyers, co-authors Social Media for Lawyers: the Next Frontier, and co-authors Criminal Law in New York. She’s easily distracted by the potential of bright and shiny tech gadgets, along with good food and wine. You can follow her on Twitter @nikiblack and she can be reached at niki.black@mycase.com.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor: An Insightful And Inspirational Role Model curated from Above the Law
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