Sotomayor defends fellow justice Clarence Thomas despite disagreements

Justice Sonia Sotomayor, a member of the Supreme Court’s liberal wing, explained Thursday how she came to appreciate Clarence Thomas, a fellow justice she has strong ideological differences with, after realizing how much “he cares about people.”

The justice was asked by an audience member how she maintains relations with judges she disagrees with, Thomas in particular, at a talk hosted by Roosevelt University in Chicago, Ill. The pair sit next to each other on the high court.

“I try to find the good in everybody,” she began. “Because if I can treat them as people with good things inside of me, they can feel it. They can feel there are things inside them that I value. And they’re more willing to talk to me, and do it in a respectful way, where we can value one another.”

The justice, who was nominated by former President Barack Obama, said that she had disagreed with Thomas more than “with any other justice” but understands he cares deeply about people.

She said, “We don’t come together on many cases and yet I can tell you that I spend time with him, understanding he is one of the few justices who knows practically everybody in our building. He knows their name, he knows the things about their life, what their family is suffering. He’ll tell me, you know that person’s wife is sick right now, or that person’s child is having difficulty.”

Sotamayor then explained how Thomas “cares” differently with people in daily life and legal issues.

“Clarence believes, just like him, because he grew up very, very poor, that everyone is capable of picking themselves up by their bootstraps. I understand that some people can’t reach their bootstraps,” she said.

“There’s a fundamental difference in how we view what the law can or should or does do for people, but I can appreciate him,” Sotomayor added.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor did a talk in Chicago tonight hosted by Roosevelt University. She was asked how she maintains relationships with judges she disagrees with — Clarence Thomas, in particular. Here’s what she said: pic.twitter.com/jCy3J0eoEy

— Eric Bradner (@ericbradner) October 21, 2022

Sotomayor made similar comments in an address to progressive lawyers in June, speaking of Thomas as “a man who cares deeply about the court as an institution” and “about the people who work there.”

Thomas has long been the subject of intra-racial attacks by more liberal Black peers for his conservative views.