Sonia Sotomayor Quotes About Lawyers

Quotes about: Lawyers

• When a young person, even a gifted one, grows up without proximate living examples of what she may aspire to become--whether lawyer, scientist, artist, or leader in any realm--her goal remains abstract. Such models as appear in books or on the news, however inspiring or revered, are ultimately too remote to be real, let alone influential. But a role model in the flesh provides more than inspiration; his or her very existence is confirmation of possibilities one may have every reason to doubt, saying, 'Yes, someone like me can do this.

  Sonia Sotomayor

  Growing Up, Real, Inspiration

  Sonia Sotomayor (2013). “My Beloved World”, p.178, Vintage

• I don't view prosecutors and attorneys as natural enemies. ... Though their roles are oppositional, the two simply have different roles to play in pursuit of the larger purpose, realizing the rule of law. ... This is not to deny that the will to win drives those efforts. ... Rather, it is simply to insist that ultimately, neither the accused nor society is served unless the integrity of the system is set above the expedient purposes of either side.

  Sonia Sotomayor

  Integrity, Winning, Views

• We educated, privileged lawyers have a professional and moral duty to represent the underrepresented in our society, to ensure that justice exists for all, both legal and economic justice.

  Sonia Sotomayor

  Justice, Our Society, Moral

  "Sonia Sotomayor: A Look at Obama's Supreme Court Pick" by Reynolds Holding, abcnews.go.com. May 26, 2009.

• What's quote-unquote a 'good' lawyer, doctor, or whatever the profession is. And if you're a male who grew up professionally in a male-dominated profession then your image of what a good lawyer is is a male image.

  Sonia Sotomayor

  Doctors, Males, Lawyer

  "Sotomayor says she was 'perfect affirmative action baby'" by Bill Mears, www.cnn.com. June 11, 2009.

• how many times would a defendant's lawyer enter the courtroom before a session and ask each of the male clerks and paralegals around me, 'Are you the assistant in charge?' while I sat there invisible to him at the head of the table?

  Sonia Sotomayor

  Clerks, Males, Tables

  Sonia Sotomayor (2013). “My Beloved World”, Vintage

• When I first became a judge on the district court, I had one lawyer who came to argue before me, and he was looking off to the side as he was talking. I started asking him questions, and all of a sudden he whipped around and looked at me intently. I could see in his eyes that he had finally figured out, "This is no dummy, I'd better pay attention." It is satisfying to see that.

  Sonia Sotomayor

  Eye, Judging, Attention

  Source: www.oprah.com

• I listened very, very carefully to the world around me to pick up the signals of when trouble was coming. Not that I could stop it. But it made me observant. That was helpful when I became a lawyer, because I knew how to read people's signals. When a witness hesitated, my mind would race to the conclusion that he was trying to hide something. What was it? I'd dissect the story in my brain and nine times out of ten figure out a hole they were trying to avoid.

  Sonia Sotomayor

  Mind, Brain, Trying

  Interview with Oprah Winfrey, www.oprah.com. January 28, 2013.

• I listened very, very carefully to the world around me to pick up the signals of when trouble was coming. Not that I could stop it. But it made me observant. That was helpful when I became a lawyer, because I knew how to read people's signals.

  Sonia Sotomayor

  People, World, Helpful

  Interview with Oprah Winfrey, www.oprah.com. January 28, 2013.

• Every lawyer, no matter whom they represent, is trying to help someone, whether it's a person, a corporation, a government entity, or a small or big business. To me, lawyering is the height of service - and being involved in this profession is a gift.

  Sonia Sotomayor

  Trying, Helping, Lawyer

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