Liberals currently have a minority in the nation’s high court. They can’t afford for that minority to get any smaller.
And this Leftist Supreme Court Justice collapsed under pressuring during tense Court arguments.
Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor sparked intense criticism following comments made during oral arguments in United States v. Jonathan Skrmetti, a case centered on Tennessee’s law banning irreversible gender transition procedures for minors.
The law has reignited national debate about the ethical and medical implications of such treatments, particularly when performed on children.
During Wednesday’s proceedings, Tennessee Solicitor General Matthew Rice raised concerns about the potential harm to minors undergoing these procedures.
He argued, “So it becomes a pure exercise of weighing benefits versus risk and the question of how many minors have to have their bodies irreparably harmed for unproven benefits is one that is best left for —”
At that point, Sotomayor interjected, cutting off Rice mid-sentence. “I’m sorry, counselor,” she said, her tone deliberate. “Every medical treatment has a risk. Even taking aspirin.”
The justice went on to assert that any medical treatment inherently carries risks and acknowledged that some patients may regret their decisions.
“How many minors have to have their bodies irreparably harmed for unproven benefits?"
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) December 4, 2024
Justice Sotomayor: Taking aspirin has risks too.
Unreal pic.twitter.com/Jav7uexplc
Her remarks were met with swift condemnation online, with critics accusing her of downplaying the significant risks associated with gender transition surgeries, particularly when performed on minors.
“No joke, Sotomayor should simply be impeached for this statement,” wrote political commentator Will Chamberlain on X. “Cavalierly dismissing the butchering of children by saying ‘well aspirin has side effects too’ is beneath the dignity of the highest court in the land.”
Fox Business host David Asman also weighed in, criticizing Sotomayor’s reasoning. “Listen to Sotomayor’s voice as she patronizingly begins, ‘I’m sorry counselor, every medical treatment has its risks. Even taking aspirin.’ As if removing kids’ body parts and sterilizing them for life is remotely comparable to taking aspirin. This is abhorrent reasoning.”
Conservative activist Christopher Rufo echoed similar sentiments, remarking, “Taking a Tylenol is significantly less risky than surgically removing a child’s p*nis and installing a ‘neo-v*gina’ in its place. This should be … obvious?”
Ian Miller, a prominent critic of progressive policies, took a broader view. “Sotomayor’s response seems laughable until you realize that it’s the default view of millions of progressives, including those who run institutions, the entire education system, corporations and government-funded NPOs. Then it becomes actively dangerous.”
Sotomayor’s response seems laughable until you realize that it’s the default view of millions of progressives, including those who run institutions, the entire education system, corporations and government funded NPO’s
— Ian Miller (@ianmSC) December 4, 2024
Then it becomes actively dangerous https://t.co/nwJ5lbyfBu
Adding to the controversy, some pointed out that doctors generally caution against giving aspirin to children due to its association with Reye’s syndrome, a rare but serious condition.
Critics saw this as further undermining Sotomayor’s analogy.
The debate surrounding gender transition procedures for minors remains a deeply polarizing issue, with Tennessee’s law reflecting a growing number of states seeking to restrict such treatments.
As the Supreme Court considers this case, the nation waits to see how the justices will navigate the fraught legal and ethical terrain. And so far, Justice Sotomayor has not been navigating this issue well at all.
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.
