Justice Sonia Sotomayor.Photo: Erin Schaff/AFP/ Getty
Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor is speaking out amid reports of mask-related tension between herself and fellow JusticeNeil Gorsuch.
While appearing virtually onTamron Hall’s eponymous show Wednesday, the host asked Sotomayor, 67, about the “rare statement” she and Gorsuch, 54, released last week, denying that she had asked him to wear a face mask, amid her own ongoing decision to do so.
“Each individual has to make that choice for themselves, and I think that it’s important to remember that people feel differently about these issues, and you don’t have to engage in negative colloquy with friends or colleagues about the question,” said Sotomayor. “You can engage in conversation around it, andrespect the choice that each person is making.”
“And that’s the best, or the most, I can say about that situation with respect to my work environment.I’mchoosing to be safe,” she added.
Sotomayor — who was the only justice to wear a mask last October, when the justices returned to the bench for the first time in 18 months amid thecoronavirus pandemic— and Gorsuch issued the brief statement on Jan. 19.
“Reporting that Justice Sotomayor asked Justice Gorsuch to wear a mask surprised us,” Gorsuch and Sotomayor said. “It is false. While we may sometimes disagree about the law, we are warm colleagues and friends.”
In a separate statement, Chief JusticeJohn Robertsalso said, “I did not request Justice Gorsuch or any other justice to wear a mask on the bench.”
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Inher Wednesday interview with Hall, 51, Sotomayor said she feels “blessed” that she has a career “where I can [make] a choice to protect myself.”
“There are many, many people Tamron, [as] you know, that don’t have that alternative, who are forced to physically go into work,” the justice said. “I can, thankfully, work virtually, so I’ve made a choice for myself to do that, because it’s safer for me.”
Sotomayor describes herself as a “juvenile diabetic” who has had diabetes for “over 60 years,” but considers herself “very healthy,” which she credited to keeping vigilant.
“I stay that way becauseI pay attention to my health, the way I think most people should,” she explained. “So I, for myself, believe that I should be masked. When I’m not, others are — because here I am with you virtually, but I do have people in the room but they’re far away and they’re masked.”
“I take as much care as I can,” Sotomayor added.
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source: people.com
