NO, actually having a Supreme Court Justice who cannot apply the term “illegal” to unlawful criminal behavior is what I would consider insulting.

Remember, this is one of the Supreme Court Justices. 

As in – a co-equal branch of government whose very charter is “interpreting” laws, and legal definitions therein.   Legal definitions are then used to frame judicial opinion toward the constitutional authority of the law to stand.  

In a very specific sense all the Supremes do is interpret law 24/7/365 and apply opinion toward definitions contained within the words.

CBS – […]   On the Supreme Court since 2009, Sotomayor said it was tough at first as justices made references that went over her head. She said joining the high court amounted to joining an ongoing conversation among justices who had served for years.

“I figure I may not be the smartest judge on the court but I’m going to be a competent justice,” she said. “I’m going to try to be the best I can and each year I think my opinions have been getting better. And I’m working at finding my voice a little bit.”

Sotomayor was asked at a talk at Yale Law School later in the day about her use of the term “undocumented immigrants” rather than the traditional illegal alien. Sotomayor characterized the issue as a regulatory problem and said labeling immigrants criminals seemed insulting to her.

“I think people then paint those individuals as something less than worthy human beings and it changes the conversation,” Sotomayor said.

Sotomayor was interviewed by Judith Resnik, a Yale law professor, in front of a large audience and later by Linda Greenhouse, a journalist-in residence and lecturer at the law school. The earlier questions focused on her memoir, “My Beloved World,” published last year.  (continue reading)