Drudge highlights Jeffrey Rosen's New Republic piece, in which a number of Second Circuit clerks and "eminent liberal scholars" expressed concerns about Sotomayor's temperament and intellect. Sotomayor is simply "not that smart and kind of a bully on the bench," as one clerk said. Rosen followed up with another report:
I was satisfied that my sources's concerns were widely shared when I read Sotomayor's entry in the Almanac of the Federal Judiciary, which includes the rating of judges based on the collective opinions of the lawyers who work with them. Usually lawyers provide fairly positive comments. That's what makes the discussion of Sotomayor's temperament so striking. Here it is: Sotomayor can be tough on lawyers, according to those interviewed. "She is a terror on the bench." "She is very outspoken." "She can be difficult." "She is temperamental and excitable. She seems angry." "She is overly aggressive--not very judicial. She does not have a very good temperament." "She abuses lawyers." "She really lacks judicial temperament. She behaves in an out of control manner. She makes inappropriate outbursts." "She is nasty to lawyers. She doesn't understand their role in the system--as adversaries who have to argue one side or the other. She will attack lawyers for making an argument she does not like."
We eagerly anticipate Rosen's latest take, in which we will surely learn that in reality Sotomayor has a first-class temperament and intellect.