Posted On: August 2, 2009 by Robert Ottinger

Judge Sotomayor

I know Judge Sotomayor and I can say without any reservation that she will be an excellent addition to the U.S. Supreme Court. Back when I was an Assistant Attorney General in New York City, I tried an employment discrimination case before Judge Sotomayor in the Southern District of New York. I represented the defendant, the New York State Prison system. The accusations against the State were serious. But Judge Sotomayor was fair to both sides. There were many motions that she ruled on along the way and she came to the right decisions. She followed the law. She is brilliant and tough. She brings the best of the lawyers who appear before her because she makes it known that she expects the lawyers to do their job well.

I liked her so much that after the trial, I asked her to give a talk at the Attorney General's Office on trial practice. She agreed and gave a great talk. Even back then when she was a trial judge, I remember thinking that she was one of those judges who just might make it to the U.S. Supreme Court. This country needs more people like her. She is a rare find and I am glad that she will be on the Court soon.