Fact Check: Justice Sotomayor's dissent lasted nearly 20 minutes, a rare occurrence

Fact Check: Justice Sotomayor's Dissent Lasted Nearly 20 Minutes, a Rare Occurrence

What We Know

On July 1, 2024, Justice Sonia Sotomayor delivered a dissenting opinion regarding a Supreme Court ruling that limited the scope of criminal charges against former President Donald Trump. Notably, Sotomayor read her dissent aloud in the courtroom, which lasted nearly 20 minutes (AP News, Politico). This act of reading a dissent from the bench is indeed rare for Supreme Court justices, as most dissenting opinions are typically released in written form without oral presentation.

Analysis

The claim that Sotomayor's dissent lasted nearly 20 minutes is supported by multiple sources. For instance, Politico and AP News both reported on the length of her dissent and noted the unusual nature of her decision to read it aloud. This practice is not common among justices, making the event significant.

However, the rarity of such occurrences is somewhat subjective and can depend on the context of previous dissents. While Sotomayor's lengthy oral dissent is highlighted as an exceptional event, it is essential to note that other justices have also occasionally read their dissents aloud, albeit infrequently. For example, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was known for reading her dissents, particularly in high-profile cases. Therefore, while Sotomayor's 20-minute dissent is indeed a notable event, labeling it as "rare" might require a more nuanced understanding of historical practices within the Supreme Court.

The sources reporting on this event, such as AP News and Politico, are reputable and provide direct accounts of the event. However, the context of the rarity of such occurrences could benefit from a broader historical perspective, which is not fully explored in the current coverage.

Conclusion

Needs Research: While the claim that Justice Sotomayor's dissent lasted nearly 20 minutes is accurate and well-supported by credible sources, the assertion that this is a "rare occurrence" requires further investigation into historical practices of dissenting opinions in the Supreme Court. A more comprehensive analysis of past instances where justices have read their dissents aloud would provide a clearer understanding of how unusual Sotomayor's action truly is.

Sources

1. SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES
2. Sotomayor's dissent: A president should not be a 'king above the law
3. Justice Sotomayor dissents on birthright ruling
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5. Sotomayor reads her dissent again - Live Updates
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7. Supreme Court hands Trump major win
8. 知乎知学堂 - 知乎