Justice Sotomayor defends courts amid criticism from Trump and his allies
Liberal Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor said that courts must use their “soft power” to persuade people to comply with rulings on contentious issues.
Liberal Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor said Tuesday that courts must use their “soft power” to persuade people to comply with rulings on contentious issues.
She made the comments at an event at Miami Dade College in Florida in the wake of a growing chorus among some allies of President Donald Trump, including Vice President JD Vance, who have pushed back against recent court rulings that have stymied some of his aggressive executive orders.
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The criticism has prompted concern that the administration could defy certain court rulings it disagrees with, with some describing the nation as being on the verge of a constitutional crisis.
“Court decisions stand, whether one particular person chooses to abide by them or not,” Sotomayor said when she was asked about the importance of the Constitution’s separation of powers. “It doesn’t change the foundation that it’s still a court order that someone will respect at some point.”
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