From additional interviews with and statements of leading legal academics:

“I’m particularly pleased that the Court will have at least one Justice with experience as a trial court. Most of the debate (both in the legal intelligentsia and the lay public / media) about constitutional interpretation concerns how to determine the meaning of constitutional norms given the constitutional text / history / structure / etc. But in fact, a good deal of constitutional interpretation (as well as non-constitutional decision-making) actually rests on judgments about how to construct doctrine in a manner that will present other decision-makers (legislative, executive, and lower judicial officials) with discernible and applicable guides for behavior.”
–Evan Caminker, Dean and Branch Rickey Collegiate Professor of Law, University of Michigan Law School

“Not too long ago, the Supreme Court considered a case that began with a lawsuit filed by the mother of a teenage girl who had been strip-searched at school. Justice Ginsburg herself noted that in such a case, rare as it may be, a jurist’s gender can have an impact on determining what is just. It is that reason, as well as her abundant qualifications, that make such a persuasive case for Judge Sotomayor to join the Supreme Court as its next justice.”
–Veryl Victoria Miles, Dean and Professor of Law, The Catholic University of America

“As soon as Justice Souter announced his resignation, I predicted that President Obama would nominate Judge Sotomayor, and so I was not surprised by the nomination. I predict an easy confirmation. After all, Judge Sotomayor has twice been confirmed by the Senate for judicial appointments, having been nominated by the first George Bush to the District Court and by Bill Clinton to the Court of Appeals. So she has had bipartisan support in the past. Judge Sotomayor has a compelling personal story as the daughter of immigrants. Her educational credentials are impeccable. She is personable and articulate. The Second Circuit Court of Appeals is known for its commercial and corporate caseload, which gives Judge Sotomayor experience in legal areas that will be of increasing importance for the Supreme Court.”
–Stewart J. Schwab, The Allan R. Tessler Dean & Professor of Law, Cornell Law School

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