Federal Judiciary

Joe Biden on Sotomayor

Vice President Joe Biden?s comments yesterday supporting Judge Sonia Sotomayor?s law enforcement credentials has some critics suggesting he went too far.

Speaking yesterday at a White House event to showcase prosecutor and police endorsements for Sotomayor, Biden noted that the Supreme Court nominee has experience as a prosecutor, Politico reports. ?As you do your job, know that Judge Sotomayor has your back as well. And throughout this nominating process, I know you?ll have her back,? Biden said.

?She gets it. ? She gets what you do every single day, day in and day out. She gets that one drug dealer on a corner, one rapist in a park is one too many and can terrorize and devastate a neighborhood,? Biden said. ?And she has a record to prove that she gets it.?

Some conservatives and one legal ethicist are criticizing Biden?s comments, the story says. ?I think what Biden said was foolish,? said New York University law professor Stephen Gillers.

?She?s not there to ?have their back.? She?s there to interpret the law as she sees fit. ? Biden crosses the line when he starts representing to interest groups that she would be voting in their favor.?

Northwestern law professor Steven Lubet disagreed. ?The fact that her supporters think she?s more disposed toward law enforcement does not suggest bias. Everybody?s in favor of law enforcement; no one?s opposed to law enforcement,? Lubet told Politico. ?This lacks the sort of specificity that would suggest bias.?

Full post as published by Southern District of Florida on June 10, 2009 (boomark / email).