Sonia Sotomayor Channels Alfred E. Neuman

Last Friday, January 7th, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Sonia Sotomayor, placed on the public record of that auspicious court a series of flagrantly and demonstrably false statements, uttered as if they were well-established facts. Without so much as a pause for reflection, or hesitation, Justice Sotomayor announced to the world that the omicron variant is just as deadly as the delta and more than 100,000 children had been hospitalized by COVID-19. She then asserted that “many” were on ventilators. The most recent report from the Department of Health and Human Services shows only 3,342 children with COVID-19 in hospitals – a far cry from 100,000.

Where did Justice Sotomayor come up with such misinformation? Was it offered by the U.S. Government lawyers in support of their case? If so, they should face discipline for misrepresenting evidence to the Court. If, as seems more likely, she simply made it up, Justice Sotomayor should be censured by her fellow justices and that should also be made a part of the formal record of the case.

For readers over the age of forty years, the words “What, Me Worry?” immediately conjure the “grinning, gap-toothed, freckled face of . . . Alfred E. Neuman”, the youngster with red hair and big ears. The phrase, “What, me worry?” always followed or was directly a part of a cartoon picturing him in a disaster. The creators of Mad Magazine clearly intended his words to convey an attitude of arrogance and nonchalance towards potential criticism; he did not care what other people thought. Alfred was confident and self-possessed and could, therefore, dispense his mantra with a shrug, “What, me worry?” Ratcatcher does not intend to imply that Justice Sotomayor physically resembles Alfred E. Neuman. She does not. But she has brought to the appellate decision process a level of arrogance and contempt for truth and the law [and, not incidentally, her fellow justices] that is breathtaking. Indeed, it is no stretch to argue that if Justice Sotomayor’s method of judging is allowed to proceed, the American judicial system will collapse of its own weight. If judges are allowed to make up “facts” and insert those “facts” into their decisions; and if they are allowed to get away with that fraud, we have no need for trials or evidence. The parties can simply go to the judge and ask “Good day, your honor. How would you like this case to come out?” That would certainly be quicker than the current American judicial system of testimony, cross examination, and reliance on actual evidence.

Justice Sotomayor has been appointed to the Supreme Court for life. She can be removed only in the most egregious circumstances and only with the most difficult procedures. As a result, she can say with Alfred E Neuman, “What, me worry?” She won’t, but the rest of us should!!

NOTE: If you have found this post interesting or helpful, please refer Ratcatcher.net to your friends. Ratcatcher invites you to leave a Comment or send an email to catcher@ratcatcher.net. Ratcatcher will respond to all civil emails.