Sonia Sotomayor apologizes to Brett Kavanaugh in US supreme court justice spat

The Guardian US News
by Reuters
April 16, 2026
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2 min read

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The Bottom Line

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor apologized to Justice Brett Kavanaugh for criticizing his ruling on ICE raids.

How This Affects You

This public apology highlights divisions within the Supreme Court, which can affect the perception of judicial impartiality and the court's direction on high-profile cases.

AI Summary

US Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor apologized to fellow Justice Brett Kavanaugh on Wednesday following her public criticism of his dissenting ruling on ICE raids. Sotomayor had previously criticized Kavanaugh at an event last week for an opinion he wrote in September concurring with the court's decision supporting roving immigration raids in California. This public apology is an unusual event, highlighting the ongoing divisions within the Supreme Court regarding its direction and rulings on high-profile cases. Kavanaugh is part of the court's conservative majority, while Sotomayor belongs to its liberal bloc.

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