Sotomayor's nomination felt from D.C. to Athens

By: CAREY O'NEIL

Posted: 6/18/09

The appointment of a Supreme Court Justice is of national importance, and several members of the University community are paying close attention.

Leah Ward Sears, chief justice of the Georgia Supreme Court, was considered for the nomination, but passed up in favor of Judge Sonia Sotomayor.

Over the course of two weeks, Obama administration officials pored over every aspect of Sears' history, including her speeches and decisions. She said the process was intensive and thorough, but "it was a real honor."

"I'm really pleased. I think the President made a good choice," she said.

This fall, Sears will be teaching a seminar titled "Contemporary Issues in Family Law" at the University.

The class will focus on several aspects of modern family law, which Sears said has changed dramatically over the past few decades.

In one class, Sears said she plans to have students debate same-sex marriage.

"In another class we're going to discuss the rise of donor children," she said.

During the class, a woman conceived through the sperm donation process will speak.

"I call that class, 'My Daddy's Name is Donor,'" she said.

Sears has taught at Emory University, but this will be her first class at the University of Georgia.

"I'm really looking forward to being on the campus with the students," she said.

Sears said it is difficult to foresee how Sotomayor's confirmation could affect family law and other areas of law.

"It's hard to be sure, but all I can be sure of is she will make a difference," she said.

"I think every new judge really changes the dynamics of the court," Sears said, pointing out Sotomayor adds a unique perspective.

Carlos Rodriguez, a graduate student from Kennesaw who served as president of the Hispanic Law Student Association for the past two semesters, said he was pleased with Sotomayor's appointment but unable to tell what effect her confirmation could have on the court.

"I can't be sure of how large of an impact Sotomayor will have," he told The Red & Black. "Justices and their decisions have surprised the past presidents that nominated them."

Rodriguez pointed out the significance of Sotomayor's nomination. "[Her] potential confirmation as the third woman and first Hispanic ever to serve on the Supreme Court is one of obvious importance," he said.

Lori Ringhand, an associate law professor specializing in Supreme Court confirmations, said apart from those important factors, she expects Sotomayor to be very similar to Justice David Souter, the man she is set to replace.

"The court is pretty divided on controversial issues that generate public attention in essentially a 4-4-1 block," she said, adding that Sotomayor will likely continue this balance.

But still, "All the justices have their quirks," she said.

Ringhand said Sotomayor was a strong pick for President Obama .

"She had been at the top of most peoples' short list," she said. "I would expect her to be confirmed with relative ease."

Sotomayor's resume is similar to those of most modern Supreme Court nominations, with extensive judicial experience but little political experience.

"I think we've lost a deep understanding on the part of the justices on how the other branches of government work, and I think that's a loss," Ringhand said.

"Justice [Sandra Day] O'Connor was the last justice to have political experience, and you could see in her opinions an understanding of how legislature works," she said.

Ringhand said regardless of how Sotomayor's appointment turns out, the process of a Supreme Court nomination brings up important issues for the country to examine.

"Confirmation hearings at their best really can be educative moments about constitutional law," she said. "It's really a conversation we as a country need to have."