Sotomayor Criticizes Kavanaugh's Privilege in Rare Judicial Rebuke

Liberal justice's personal dig at conservative colleague raises concerns over Supreme Court's declining standards of collegiality.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 12:10pm

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A photorealistic painting in the style of Edward Hopper, depicting the exterior of the Supreme Court building in warm, golden light, with a lone figure standing solemnly on the steps, conveying a sense of the court's solemn responsibility.The Supreme Court's tradition of judicial collegiality faces new challenges as justices increasingly take their disagreements public.Lawrence Today

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor publicly criticized her colleague Justice Brett Kavanaugh during a law school appearance, accusing him of being an 'out-of-touch elitist' who lacks understanding of the experiences of hourly wage workers. Sotomayor's comments represent a rare and personal attack from one justice against another, raising concerns about the court's declining standards of collegiality.

Why it matters

Justices are expected to maintain a professional and collegial relationship on the bench, even when they disagree on legal interpretations. Sotomayor's public rebuke of Kavanaugh's background and perspective is seen by some as a troubling departure from that tradition, potentially undermining public trust in the court's impartiality.

The details

During an appearance at the University of Kansas School of Law, Sotomayor took aim at Kavanaugh's concurrence in a recent immigration case, suggesting his privileged upbringing blinded him to the real-world impacts on hourly workers. Sotomayor contrasted Kavanaugh's background with her own experiences, claiming her interactions with 'people who work by the hour' gave her a more nuanced understanding of the issues.

  • On April 12, 2026, Sotomayor made the comments during a law school appearance at the University of Kansas.

The players

Justice Sonia Sotomayor

A liberal-leaning Supreme Court justice known for her outspoken and occasionally controversial public comments.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh

A conservative-leaning Supreme Court justice who has faced intense personal attacks since his contentious nomination process.

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What they’re saying

“I had a colleague in that case who wrote, you know, these are only temporary stops. This is from a man whose parents were professionals. And probably doesn't really know any person who works by the hour. Those hours that they took you away, nobody's paying that person. And that makes a difference between a meal for him and his kids that night and maybe just cold supper.”

— Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Supreme Court Justice

What’s next

It remains to be seen if Justice Sotomayor will issue a retraction or clarification of her comments about Justice Kavanaugh. The Supreme Court may also address the broader issue of maintaining civility and collegiality among the justices.

The takeaway

Sotomayor's personal attack on Kavanaugh's background and perspective represents a troubling breach of the Supreme Court's tradition of professionalism and mutual respect, even among ideologically opposed justices. This incident raises concerns about the court's ability to remain impartial and focused on the law rather than partisan politics.