No religion, gender or ethnicity disqualifies a person from becoming a Supreme Court justice, but how should a particular judge’s life experiences — including faith, gender or ethnicity — inform his or her judicial rulings?
The confirmation hearings for Judge Sotomayor are a foregone conclusion, with the dust raised by Republicans barely masking the bald fact that the Democratic majority can vote in whomever they want. In any case, a ritual that resembles liar’s poker more than a serious interrogation of judicial philosophy will stay true to form, with much dodging and weaving on the nominee’s part. This time around the Democrats no doubt feel that they must redeem themselves…