Judge Sotomayor and the Constitution
July 15, 2009 | By Nathaniel Ward
The Senate Judiciary Committee is conducting hearings this week on Judge Sonia Sotomayor, President Obama's Supreme Court nominee.
Yesterday's hearings included questions about her views on the role of judges and the Constitution. She explained that her use of the expression "wise Latina" was intended to inspire, not to indicate that her Heritage would bias her rulings. Judge Sotomayor also told Senators that the controversial 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade is "settled law" and based on a Constitutionally-defined "right to privacy."
The Heritage Foundation continues to educate lawmakers and the public about why it's important that judges remain faithful to the Constitution.
For example, thanks to the generous support of Heritage members this week, we will be distributing copies of the Heritage Guide to the Constitution to every Senator. This is a complement to our ongoing efforts to educate members of Congress on judicial confirmation issues.
In addition, we're reaching out to the public to make clear the important issues at stake. For example, Heritage Foundation President Ed Feulner contrasts reminds the nominee that the job of a Justice is "to consult [the Constitution] for guidance, not foreign laws or policies." He explains that "U.S. citizens are subject only to laws made by American legislators -- not foreigners at the United Nations, in Europe or in Zimbabwe."
Check back to Heritage's Supreme Court Rapid Response page for a round-up of Heritage resources on the hearings.
Other Heritage work of note
- On Monday, Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich will deliver a speech at The Heritage Foundation on American national security and threats our country faces. You can watch the webcast on MyHeritage.org next Monday at 10:00 a.m. Eastern.
This speech, Heritage national security expert James Carafano writes in the Washington Examiner, will be an opportunity for Gingrich to echo the words of Winston Churchill and prescribe, as Churchill did, a "self-confident" and "militarily strong America" as the "best hope for world peace."
- Heritage Foundation vice president Stuart Butler has been asked to serve a second three-year term on the editorial board of Health Affairs, a leading policy journal. This renewed appointment reflects the continued importance of conservative ideas to the health care debate and Heritage's leadership on the issue.
- There are indications that the Senate may once again consider the Law of the Sea Treaty, which would abrogate American sovereignty, hobble our military and open the door for meddling by international bureaucrats. To counter this threat, The Heritage Foundation is working with the Center for Security Policy and the Freedom Alliance to facilitate the Sovereignty Caucus, a group of lawmakers dedicated to preserving American independence. In the coming weeks, Heritage will host private briefings for members of Congress and their staffs on the importance of protecting sovereignty and the dangers posed by pending treaties like LOST.
- In the months since President Obama took office, the Left has been fast-tracking legislation to expand the size and scope of government. These radical lawmakers believe the $800 billion "stimulus" bill was too small and the economically-destructive cap-and-tax bill too weak, Heritage fellow and former Congressman Ernest Istook argues in Human Events. And they think "'change' must be total transformation into European-style socialism, or worse."
In other news
- The White House will be updating its budget projections in the face of continued poor economic performance. Economists had noted that their original projections seemed rather too optimistic.
- Lawmakers intend to make health care a "right" for all Americans, the AP reports. But can it be properly called a "right" if a) it had to be invented by Congress and b) it imposes obligations on others? Regardless, President Obama has called for passage of the $1.5 trillion, 1,000-page plan before the August recess.
- California, whose lawmakers want to spend $26 billion more than tax revenues, is now paying some bills with IOUs instead of cash. What's more, some of the Golden State's debt has now been rated at near junk status—meaning those who hold the debt are uncertain if they'll ever get their money back.
- So much for the "stimulus" bill as a way to "create or save" jobs: President Obama has said he expects unemployment to rise still further.
- Britain's National Health Service recently released a pamphlet to teach teens about the "fun" and "pleasure" of sex. While some welcome the new approach, there's a very real risk the new pamphlet, titled "Pleasure," will further encourage promiscuity.
- In his effort to return to power after being ousted for violating his country's constitution, Honduran ex-President Maneul Zelaya has called on his supporters to start an insurrection.
Coming up at Heritage
To attend these or any other events at Heritage please RSVP at Heritage's website. Or you can view these events live online. All times are Eastern
- On Friday, July 17 at 10:00 a.m., legal experts including Principal Deputy Solicitor General Neal Katyal will join Heritage scholars for a discussion of the recently-concluded Supreme Court term.
- On Monday, July 20 at 10:00 a.m., former House Speaker Newt Gingrich delivers an address on defense spending at The Heritage Foundation. This event is at capacity; no space remains to attend in person.
Nathaniel Ward is the Editor of MyHeritage.org—a website for members and supporters of The Heritage Foundation. Amanda Reinecker contributed to this report.
