Justice Sonia Sotomayor apologized Wednesday for criticizing Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh during a public discussion about immigration policies. Her remarks, made at the University of Kansas Law School, drew sharp scrutiny for singling out a colleague’s views on working-class experiences. Sotomayor acknowledged her comments were “inappropriate” and expressed regret, marking an unusual public rebuke within the Supreme Court’s historically collegial environment.

The controversy stemmed from a September 2025 ruling allowing temporary immigration stops in Los Angeles, which Sotomayor dissented against. She argued Kavanaugh’s concurrence—defending brief investigative stops—showed a disconnect from marginalized communities. “There are some people who can’t understand our experiences, even when you tell them,” she said, referencing her own upbringing in Bronx public housing. Kavanaugh, raised in affluent Bethesda, Maryland, later clarified his stance, banning race-based stops while acknowledging ethnicity as a “relevant factor.”

The clash highlights ideological divides among justices, particularly over immigration and socioeconomic empathy. Sotomayor, the court’s first Latina, often cites her working-class background to contextualize her rulings, while Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings emphasized his volunteer work with homeless shelters. Both justices graduated Yale Law, but their life experiences underscored contrasting perspectives on policy impacts.

Legal analysts suggest the apology reflects efforts to mend tensions as the court finalizes critical Trump-era cases. Sotomayor reiterated she avoids defining colleagues by “their worst ideas,” yet the incident underscores challenges in maintaining judicial decorum amid polarized debates. The Wall Street Journal editorialized the episode as a “profile” of Kavanaugh, further amplifying the scrutiny.