Q: Would you describe yourself as being tough on the bench?
A: Demanding.
Q: You’re demanding.
A: Tough, yes, in the sense that I want lawyers to be prepared. I think that being a lawyer is one of the best jobs in the whole wide world.
Q: Really?
A: You want to know why? Because every lawyer, no matter whom they represent, is trying to help someone, whether it’s a person, 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. Any lawyer who is unhappy should go back to square one and start again.
Source: The Oprah Magazine, February 2013
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Too bad she never represented a real person in a real courtroom. I like her, she’s a great justice, but don’t forget that she was a prosecutor when she was a trail lawyer.
I am also an admirer of Judge Sotomayor – she’s right. I regularly run into trial lawyers who whine about how they hate their clients, the judges, other lawyers. I am particularly disappointed in my colleagues when I hear them tell young people and students not to “waste their time” pursuing a law degree. It shocks me.
I would add the following to the altruistic motives described by the Judge: for those of us with a certain intellect and combative nature, you can’t beat mixing it up in Court.