Justice Sotomayor Calls for Overturning Presidential Immunity Ruling

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor stated on Saturday that she hopes the court will overturn its recent decision granting former presidents broad criminal immunity, describing some of the court’s rulings as “crazy things.” She made these remarks during a civics education event at George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate.

Remarks at Mount Vernon on Civics and Voting

Speaking as part of a multi-day celebration marking the nation’s 250th anniversary, Justice Sotomayor emphasized the importance of civics education. She highlighted the strong voter turnout during this week’s midterm elections, saying, “We saw the outpouring of voters in on Tuesday.” While she did not directly comment on the political shift caused by Democrats sweeping control of both chambers of Congress, she stressed that “there’s no excuse for not voting. There just isn’t. Apathy is not acceptable.”

Concerns About the State of Democracy

Throughout her hourlong talk, Sotomayor expressed concerns about the current state of American democracy. She acknowledged the need for “some hard work” to restore balance and return the country to an “even keel.” Reflecting on shifts in the Supreme Court’s jurisprudence, she noted, “There have been some systemic changes in my court’s jurisprudence in many areas of law.” She expressed hope that the court will eventually settle into a new order that the public can understand.

Criticism of the Presidential Immunity Decision

Justice Sotomayor specifically criticized the Supreme Court’s 6-3 ideological decision granting former presidents at least presumptive immunity for official acts. In her dissent at the time, she wrote that the ruling made President Trump (Republican, 2nd term, inaugurated Jan 20 2025) and his successors a “king above the law.” Speaking to the audience, she said, “I dissent a lot. I’m hoping that the court will take back some of the crazy things that it’s done. I’m only joking — maybe not.” She added, “No, seriously. You know, I’ve spoken openly about this, there’s some opinions that I hope in my lifetime will get overturned. The immunity case is one of them.”

Her comments mark the first time Sotomayor has publicly addressed this week’s midterm elections and the controversial immunity ruling in a public forum.

Justice Sotomayor’s remarks underline ongoing debates about presidential accountability and the Supreme Court’s role in shaping legal protections for former presidents.