Sotomayor exploits Supreme Court staff to promote her books.

Supreme Court Justice Sonya Sotomayor’s Controversial Book Sales

Staffers for Supreme Court Justice Sonya Sotomayor have been actively promoting the purchase of her books by colleges and libraries, a practice that has raised ethical concerns. Critics argue that this behavior is questionable and goes against ethical standards.

Sotomayor, who has earned over $3.7 million from her memoir and children’s book sales since joining the Court in 2009, has utilized her staff to encourage institutions to buy large quantities of her books during her speaking engagements, according to the Associated Press. This practice is not allowed for members of Congress and the executive branch due to government ethics rules, but the Supreme Court is not obligated to follow these rules.

The Court stated that its staffers assist in advising venues on book ordering for events. They recommend the number of books to order based on the audience size, ensuring that attendees are not disappointed by the unavailability of books at an event.

However, records requests have revealed instances where staffers actively pushed event organizers to purchase books. Aide Anh Le, for example, urged workers at the Multnomah County Library to acquire more copies of Sotomayor’s book, Just Ask, ahead of a 2019 visit. Le emphasized the importance of having enough books to meet the demand, as families often purchase multiple copies and attendees would be upset if the required book was sold out.

Kedric Payne, a former congressional ethics official, criticized the aides’ conduct, stating that it violates “one of the most basic tenets of ethics laws that protects taxpayer dollars from misuse.”

Sotomayor’s approach to promoting her books stands out among other justices. The AP reported that while justices are allowed to earn money through book sales, Sotomayor has been particularly proactive in leveraging publicly sponsored travel to boost her book sales. Emails and records reviewed by the AP support this claim.

Furthermore, Sotomayor’s publisher, Penguin Random House, has also played a role in organizing her talks. Emails reveal that the publisher has pressured public institutions to commit to buying a specific number of copies or requested that attendees purchase books to obtain tickets. It is worth noting that the publisher has had several matters before the court in which Sotomayor did not recuse herself.