The Eyes of the Law: Partying with Sonia from the Block
Sometimes stereotypes are true. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the Supreme Court’s first Latina justice, loves to dance — and she’s pretty darn good at it, too.
Consider this comment — posted back in May 2005, about then-Judge Sotomayor — from Underneath Their Robes:
In October [2004], attended the wedding of two law school classmate, one of whom (the bride) clerked for Judge Sotomayor. Judge Sotomayor was delightful and gracious — she took the time to introduce herself to the bride’s mother (and invited her to lunch when she was next in NYC to see her daughter). But the best was yet to come.The Judge is a dancing machine. She danced it up with the groom, the bride, and the bride’s district court judge (Judge Underhill of Connecticut, who is no slouch on the dance floor either). She has mad rhythm. Don’t be fooled by the robes that she’s got!
Indeed. Residents of Washington who were out on the town Monday night were treated to the sight — and sound — of Justice Sotomayor celebrating her Supreme Court appointment, dancing and singing karaoke with family and friends.
An eyewitness (and earwitness) account, plus some grainy video, after the jump.
This account comes not from an ATL reader, but from a friend of a reader (which may explain why the person didn’t immediately recognize Justice Sotomayor, as well as the somewhat casual diction):
Ok so my friend and I are having a drink at the little irish pub under the red roof inn on 5th and H in chinatown (like a block from my apt). And it was pretty empty… maybe like 10 of us in there.
In case you’re wondering, the bar in question was the Irish Channel Pub — which left DCist unimpressed (“But Sonia, sweetheart, the Irish Channel? The last resort of visiting hockey fans and tourists staying at the Red Roof Inn who have no better ideas of where to go?”).
And then like 40 or so people roll in… and a lot of them were older but the group was mixed in age so i thought maybe it was a family reunion or a birthday party or something. So they are like…surrounding us lol bc we were sitting at a hightop right in the middle and the bar is really tiny. And then there is this woman in a blue jacket like dancing up a storm just inches from me.
Hmm…. Might it have been this blue jacket?
And even though the music was up I still had to practically whisper to my friend bc [the woman in the blue jacket] was in ear shot. And I said ‘dude i know this is going to sound strange… but that woman seriously looks like the new supreme court justice.’ and my friend isn’t really into politics so she was like ‘i dont know.’ and i kept looking and i said ‘i mean… i dont know much about her but i remember seeing her on the news, and this woman could be her twin. i am seriously thinking that is Sonya Sotomayor…but why the hell would a supreme court justice be out partying on a monday night?’ and i was literally updating my FB to say ‘i am almost certain justice sotomayor’s twin is dancing next to me.’
Well, in Her Honor’s defense, it was the Monday of Labor Day weekend….
And then they got on the microphone (bc there was karaoke) and said something like ‘Justice Sotomayor… congratulations on being sworn in tomorrow!’ i was like… oh…my effing…g-d. i look at my friend and i am like ‘that is the new fucking supreme court justice holy fucking shit.’ and it was just increasingly awkward and funny bc my friend and i are legit just sitting at this hightop SURROUNDED by sotomayor’s freakin dancing and partying family.and then i spoke to her cousin who said they were all out celebrating since tomorrow (today) she gets sworn in. Oh… and don’t you worry—- she sang! She sang ‘we are family’ with some of her family up on stage. it was a stellar performance. everyone was crowding around and we happened to have front row seats bc we just happened to be there drinking earlier. lol. they were there for a solid couple hrs. i had a chance to shake her hand and congratulate her which was cool. i guess i could say ‘partying with a supreme court justice’ is on my bucket list so… that one is conquered! lol.
Awesome! Will Justice Sotomayor regale her colleagues and clerks with “Feliz Navidad” at the One First Street holiday party?
If you think a picture, albeit a grainy one, is worth a thousand words, here is a video clip of SS’s appearance at the Irish Channel Pub (via HuffPo):
Sonia Sotomayor Parties at the Irish Channel [DCist]
Justice Sonia Sotomayor Dancing [YouTube via Huffington Post]
Oh, and Sonia Sotomayor Is Now a Supreme Court Justice [Wonkette]
Report from the High Court: The Calm Before the Storm [WSJ Law Blog]
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First from Philly
More like ScoTTTus.
"Will Justice Sotomayor regale her colleagues and clerks with “Feliz Navidad” at the One First Street holiday party?" Please moderate this post; it's racist.
Smells like burrito farts in here.
The tipster sounds like a 14 year old girl.
LOL.
The "tipster" makes me fear for the future of the republic.
14 year old girls are the new 18.
Tucker Max
Lat, why are you so effing prejudiced against all people of color except Asians? You really can't help yourself can you?
Why does Sotomayor having sang "We are family" prompt Lat to ask if she'll sing "Feliz Navidad" at the holiday party? That's like saying, I saw her out eating pasta the other night, I wonder if she'll eat tacos for lunch at court.
Leave Lat alone: he's clearly exhausted from his detention after he ran onto the court at the U.S. Open last night to kiss Nadal.
9 - Maybe because Sotomayor makes such a big deal out of her LATINA background, at every opportunity?
11, I've never heard of her making reference to her ethnic background.
All Asians look like 14 yr old girls.
Sonia
12 - Does the phrase "Wise Latina" ring a bell?
She's no Harriet Miers.
Her specialty is baila del pollo, from what I've heard...
Taco flavored kisses!
Sotomayor is the foremost connoisseur of chili con carne.
Stan Wilder
5 - using "LOL" makes you sound like one too
14, what are you referring to? A Taco Bell?
"Baby, let's make a run for the border,
I've got a hunger only tacos can stop.
I know exactly what I'll order
three tacos, two tostadas, and a soda pop."
Latinasslobster con queso, por favor?
Meringue
4 FTW!
This reminds me of the time I happened upon Scalia and Alito singing karaoke in Georgetown last year. They did a duet of "That's Amore." It was freaking hysterical.
All these Mexicans want to do is dance, make babies, and scream their spanglish in my ear as they walk down the street. I had to do a deposition in the filthy city, this summer during the PR parade. I wondered what in Samhill are all these people celebrating--their disproportionately low socioeconomic status?
Way to follow up on the Cleary/Cuomo story
http://amlawdaily.typepad.com/amlawdaily/2009/09/cleary-to-cuomo-.html
5 - It was Lat, who often does sound like a 14 y.o. girl.
Lat = 14 yr old asian girl
What's next, Lat: suggesting that Clarence Thomas sings "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" while working in his chambers? Classy.
Jimmy Carter just died.
Didn't have the sound on, but I imagined the Fox news anchor leading off with "Now, what we're about to show might be disturbing to some viewers. . . "
Otherwise pointless story.
It's all about the Roosevelts baby . . .
Sotomajor is the foremost connoisseur of chili con carnasslobster.
Her appointment, combined with the recent efforts of Osama and his comrades to alter the very fabric of our country, ensure that the next round of elections will make '94's contract with America look like a minor flurry in politics. Mark it.
So that's how racists celebrate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2k64w3354kE&feature=related
can't wait for this trainwreck to assume a lifetime appointment
FLASHBACK: On this blog, three weeks ago, Lady Soto sang a version of "We are Family" and now Sotomayor is singing the SAME song at a bar. I think she might be one in the same:
http://abovethelaw.com/2009/08/above_the_law_off_the_record.php?show=comments#comment-1196127
Good for our new justice. I'm glad she's the type of person with a close and supportive group of friends and family. And they sure have a lot to celebrate. Hope they had a great time.
Although Billy Rehnquist was known to be able to moonwalk while wearing wingtips, Sotomayor might be the best dancer the Supreme Court has ever seen.
33- you figure that out all by yourself, or was it while watching Fox News during your 1L torts lecture?
40, if you think the public is infatuated with the neo-Marxist, you are without any political acumen and are in for a great shock.
The democrat party destroyed itself by nominating a socialist who has appointed self-described "rowdy black nationalists" to his staff, defended the Black Panthers' right to intimidate white voters, and voiced his desire to put us deeper into debt.
He's the new Carter.
I would like to know Obama's and Soto's LSAT scores. I realize they got in T2 because of the minority status. Just would like to know how dumb they really are. Thanks.
Yeah, and 42, they also got great grades and racked up the highest credentials at those top notch schools because of their minority status, too, right? Puhlease.
43, what were the LSAT scores? Thanks.
43 Obama became editor of of the HLR by doing accusing HLS of being racist- the same institution that allowed him in because of his minority status. He's a cheap con artist.
Too bad we'll never know what Obama wrote while in school since he's hidden it... just like he's hidden his birth certificate which prob reveals he's a muslim, or born in Kenya. Or both.