The rule of law, and the judges who uphold it, is under attack by the current Trump administration. Executive orders with dubious constitutional backing are flying from the Donald’s pen, and there’s a certified avalanche of litigation trying to limit the executive’s power grab. And the federal bench has, thus far, responded admirably. Judge after judge — even those appointed by Republicans — are holding the constitutional line and blocking, or at least pausing, the maneuvering.
But the right doesn’t like that — like, at all. And there’s been a wave of attacks, mercifully rhetorical, against judges and the legal system. It’s led some to wonder — and fear — what exactly will happen if the Trump administration pulls a Bartleby the Scrivener and just… prefers not to follow a court order.
That (increasingly likely) scenario is not super concerning to one person — Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. As reported by HuffPost, at an event at Miami Dade College, Sotomayor expressed trust in the system that honestly feels unearned in the year of our lord 2025:
“Court decisions stand, whether one particular person chooses to abide by them or not, it doesn’t change the foundation that it’s still a court order that someone will respect at some point,” she said. “That’s the faith I have in our system.”
Sotomayor has more faith in the court system than Taylor Swift has in *that* bodysuit.
She continued, noting, “We’ve had moments where it’s been tested, but by and large we have been a country who has understood that the rule of law has helped us maintain our democracy,” she said. “But it’s also because the court has proceeded cautiously.”
Methinks our country is already in the midst of another big test, and we’re not at all prepared for it.
Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Mastodon @Kathryn1@mastodon.social.
The post Sonia Sotomayor Wildly Out Of Touch With Trump’s America appeared first on Above the Law.
The rule of law, and the judges who uphold it, is under attack by the current Trump administration. Executive orders with dubious constitutional backing are flying from the Donald’s pen, and there’s a certified avalanche of litigation trying to limit the executive’s power grab. And the federal bench has, thus far, responded admirably. Judge after judge — even those appointed by Republicans — are holding the constitutional line and blocking, or at least pausing, the maneuvering.
But the right doesn’t like that — like, at all. And there’s been a wave of attacks, mercifully rhetorical, against judges and the legal system. It’s led some to wonder — and fear — what exactly will happen if the Trump administration pulls a Bartleby the Scrivener and just… prefers not to follow a court order.
That (increasingly likely) scenario is not super concerning to one person — Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. As reported by HuffPost, at an event at Miami Dade College, Sotomayor expressed trust in the system that honestly feels unearned in the year of our lord 2025:
“Court decisions stand, whether one particular person chooses to abide by them or not, it doesn’t change the foundation that it’s still a court order that someone will respect at some point,” she said. “That’s the faith I have in our system.”
Sotomayor has more faith in the court system than Taylor Swift has in *that* bodysuit.
She continued, noting, “We’ve had moments where it’s been tested, but by and large we have been a country who has understood that the rule of law has helped us maintain our democracy,” she said. “But it’s also because the court has proceeded cautiously.”
Methinks our country is already in the midst of another big test, and we’re not at all prepared for it.
Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Mastodon @[email protected].
