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Monday, November 16, 2009

Courts - "New Justice Sotomayor Emerges as Frequent -- and Tough -- Questioner"

So writes Tony Mauro in this article for The National Law Journal. A sample:

As Sotomayor wraps up her second full argument cycle as a Supreme Court justice, it has become clear that she is a prolific and fearless questioner. She can be tenacious and direct, bordering on harsh. She can be impatient when the lawyer does not answer her question precisely. She knows her stuff and clearly loves the give and take.

All of which is to say, Sotomayor fits right in with her new colleagues, many of whom do exactly the same thing. Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. and Samuel Alito Jr. can be every bit as dismissive, Stephen Breyer can be just as persistent and wordy, and Antonin Scalia can be just as critical. No, Scalia is more critical: During one argument last week, Scalia told an advocate, "The big obstacle I find with your position is that it doesn't make any sense."

What's notable is that Sotomayor has tuned into the high court's wavelength so early in her tenure. The memo about new justices being seen more than heard must have gotten lost in the interoffice mail. During the final oral argument last week, Hertz v. Friend, Sotomayor asked 16 questions, more than any other justice.

And from Speakeasy, the WSJ "blog about media, entertainment, celebrity and the arts," this item from Jess Bravin:
Last month, I advised my Twitter followers that noted photographer Annie Leibowitz had announced plans to shoot Justice Sonia Sotomayor for Vogue. Coming days after GQ featured Chief Justice John Roberts, it seemed like the birth of a whole new style epoch–haute cour couture, if you will.

Regrettably, the high court is not yet that fashion forward. After Leibowitz’s remarks at the California Women’s Conference in Long Beach, Calif., we checked with the Supreme Court. Despite the anticipation coming off her cover shoot for Latina magazine, Sotomayor had declined to pose for Vogue. Because of the justice’s heavy workload, she is “limiting commitments as she settles into her new responsibilities at the court,” a spokeswoman said.

Perhaps Leibowitz isn’t used to being turned down. “It was a miscommunication and a misunderstanding,” said Vogue spokesman Patrick O’Connell. Leibowitz had been excited by the thought of photographing the newest justice, he said, and did not know the invitation had been declined . “We would love to work with the justice in the future ,” he added.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on November 16, 2009 02:59 PM
Posted to Courts in general