That?s Business Week?s largely positive assessment of U.S. Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor.
While it?s encouraging to read that observers say she?s known for ?keeping to a close reading of the federal statutes that govern most business disputes,? other passages in the article suggest too much willingness to use the bench as a platform for making policy:
At times she has raised the hurdle for class actions, at times eased it. In employment disputes, she has sided frequently with workers but shows no compunction about ruling for employers where the law favors them.
Willing to uphold large punitive damages?as a district judge, she voiced “grave doubts” that a penalty of less than $1.25 million would deter a New York bank found liable for $320,000 in back pay for sex discrimination?she has also supported reductions in damages in other cases.
