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A4 U.S. NEWS
Friday 7 February 2025
Justice Sotomayor renews her opposition to the court’s ruling that

ex-presidents have broad immunity

By BRUCE SCHREINER public support if it went a
Associated Press little more slowly in undo-
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — U.S. ing precedent,” Sotomayor
Supreme Court Justice So- said.
nia Sotomayor said her Other seismic shifts made
conservative colleagues by the high court in recent
are risking the court’s legit- years have included over-
macy with decisions afford- turning Roe v. Wade to end
ing President Donald Trump nationwide protections for
broad immunity and over- abortion rights, and striking
turning longstanding prec- down affirmative action in
edents on other issues. college admissions.
In her first public comments Sotomayor said precedent-
since Trump began his busting rulings have be-
second term in the White come more frequent, and
House, Sotomayor told a she focused on the public
Kentucky audience that fallout from courts going
the court has gone too far, too far too fast.
too fast on a range of is- “I think that creates insta-
sues. She cited the Trump bility in the society, in peo-
case during a lengthy re- ple’s perception of law and
sponse to a question about people’s perception of
sagging public confidence whether we’re doing things
in the court. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor greets people as she attends a ceremony during the because of legal analysis or
Sotomayor issued a sting- opening of the Yonkers Public School District’s new Justice Sonia Sotomayor Community School because of partisan views,”
ing dissent in that case, on Monday, Sept 16, 2024, in New York. Associated Press she said. “Whether those
and she didn’t hold back views are accurate or not,
Wednesday night in dis- event in Louisville. “I think law” in its ruling that lim- hard time with the immuni- I don’t accuse my col-
cussing public perceptions the immunity case is one ited the scope of criminal ty case. And if we continue leagues of being partisan.”
of the court following its his- of those situations. I don’t charges against Trump for going in directions that the She said they “genuinely
toric 6-3 decision on the im- think that Americans have his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, public is going to find hard have a belief in a certain
munity question. The court’s accepted that anyone riot at the U.S. Capitol and to understand, we’re plac- way of looking at the Con-
conservative majority, with should be above the law efforts to overturn the elec- ing the court at risk.” stitution.”
three justices appointed by in America. Our equality as tion. Earlier in her answer to the “And I understand, in good
Trump in his first term, ruled people was the foundation She renewed her objec- question about lagging faith, that they think that
for the first time that former of our society and of our tions while discussing the public confidence in the that belief better promotes
presidents have broad im- constitution.” case to the Louisville audi- court, Sotomayor pointed our democracy,” she said.
munity from prosecution. In her dissent last year, ence. to her conservative col- “But whether that’s true or
“If we as a court go so which she read aloud in “Our constitution itself has leagues’ willingness to up- not is irrelevant if people
much further ahead of the courtroom, Sotomayor provisions not exempting end decades-old prece- are feeling insecure in the
people, our legitimacy is said the court’s majority the president from criminal dents. changes that they’re insti-
going to be questioned,” allowed a president to be- activity after an impeach- “I think my court would tuting at a pace that they
Sotomayor said during the come a “king above the ment,” she said. “So I had a probably gather more can’t absorb.”q

Boy Scouts see a small membership uptick after rebrand to

Scouting America

By JAMIE STENGLE Although the overall gain in membership
Associated Press was small about 16,000 new scouts, up less
IRVING, Texas (AP) — A historic rebrand of than 2% from the prior year it is still encour-
the Boy Scouts of America has been fol- aging for the organization after participa-
lowed by a small uptick in young people tion plummeted during the COVID-19 pan-
joining what will now be called Scouting demic. The organization, which began al-
America, a welcoming sign as the orga- lowing girls to join its scouting programs in
nization tries to move past scandal and 2018, has just over 1 million members.
bankruptcy. Krone said Cub Scouts, the youngest
The group will continue leaning into a scouting level, saw an increase of almost
broad message of inclusivity as it cel- 3%. Although the majority of scouts are
ebrates its 115th birthday Saturday, Presi- still boys, over 196,000, girls participated
dent and CEO Roger Krone said. He ac- in Scouting America’s programs last year.
knowledged some backlash to the re- More than 8,000 girls have earned the rank
brand after it was announced last year of Eagle Scout.
but described the overall response as a The name change will officially take effect
positive one that generated wider interest. during the weekend birthday celebration,
“The fact that we were going with a more when sites across the U.S. will be illuminat-
Roger Krone, chief executive officer of Scouting America, smiles
during an interview at the organization’s headquarters in Irving, kind of gender-neutral name, a lot of peo- ed in red, white and blue, including Niag-
Texas, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. ple kind of wanted to know more about ara Falls and the Empire State Building.q
Associated Press it,” Krone said.