Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor Apologizes to Kavanaugh for 'Hurtful' Comments

Sotomayor's rare public apology highlights ongoing divisions within the nation's highest court.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 5:39pm

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A quiet, cinematic painting of the Supreme Court building in warm, golden sunlight, with deep shadows and the American flag waving gently, conveying a sense of solemnity and unease.The Supreme Court's internal divisions over its ideological direction have cast a pall of tension over the nation's highest judicial body.NYC Today

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor issued a public apology on Wednesday for her recent criticism of fellow Justice Brett Kavanaugh, an unusual move that underscores the continuing divisions within the nation's top judicial body over its direction and actions in high-profile cases.

Why it matters

The apology from Sotomayor, a senior member of the court's liberal bloc, to Kavanaugh, one of the court's six conservative justices, reflects the deep ideological rifts on the Supreme Court that have periodically spilled into public view in recent years.

The details

Sotomayor had criticized Kavanaugh at an event in Kansas last week for an opinion he wrote in September concurring with the court's decision backing roving immigration raids in California. In her apology, Sotomayor said she 'made remarks that were inappropriate' and that she has 'apologized to my colleague'.

  • On April 15, 2026, Sotomayor issued the apology.
  • Last week, Sotomayor criticized Kavanaugh at an event in Kansas.

The players

Sonia Sotomayor

A U.S. Supreme Court Justice and the senior member of the court's three-justice liberal bloc.

Brett Kavanaugh

A U.S. Supreme Court Justice and one of the court's six conservative justices.

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What they’re saying

“'At a recent appearance at the University of Kansas School of Law, I referred to a disagreement with one of my colleagues in a prior case, but I made remarks that were inappropriate. I regret my hurtful comments.'”

— Sonia Sotomayor, U.S. Supreme Court Justice

“'If the officers learn that the individual they stopped is a U.S. citizen or otherwise lawfully in the United States, they promptly let the individual go.'”

— Brett Kavanaugh, U.S. Supreme Court Justice

What’s next

The Supreme Court is expected to continue grappling with internal divisions over its ideological direction and high-profile rulings, with further public statements or actions from the justices possible.

The takeaway

Sotomayor's rare public apology to Kavanaugh underscores the deep partisan and ideological rifts within the nation's highest court, which have increasingly spilled into public view in recent years as the court has shifted rightward.