Justice Sotomayor Apologizes for Remarks About Colleague

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor issued a public apology on Wednesday for remarks she made about a colleague's background during a recent public appearance. The remarks referenced an opinion written by Justice Brett Kavanaugh in a 2023 immigration case.

The Apology and Remarks

In a statement issued Wednesday, Justice Sotomayor said:

"I made remarks that were inappropriate. I regret my hurtful comments. I have apologized to my colleague."

The remarks were made during an appearance at the University of Kansas School of Law on April 7. According to a report by Bloomberg Law, Sotomayor referenced a 2023 Supreme Court opinion written by Justice Kavanaugh.

The report stated she commented that the opinion was "from a man whose parents were professionals. And probably doesn’t really know any person who works by the hour."

Case Background

The remarks pertained to a 2023 Supreme Court decision that allowed immigration enforcement actions in the Los Angeles area. In that case, Justice Kavanaugh was part of the majority, while Justice Sotomayor dissented.

Kavanaugh's opinion argued that law enforcement would likely have reasonable suspicion to stop individuals in many circumstances during such operations.

Context on Court Relations

Also on Wednesday, Justice Clarence Thomas commented on the current environment among justices during an appearance at the University of Texas at Austin.

Thomas stated he joined a court that "dealt with differences as friends" and expressed concern that the current environment could "infect" institutions like the court.

The Supreme Court is preparing to issue rulings for its current term, which concludes at the end of June.