[Volokh] Paul Cassell: Judge Sotomayor's 50 Most Important Opinions:

[notify at powerblogs.com]

Posted by Paul Cassell:
Judge Sotomayor's 50 Most Important Opinions:
http://volokh.com/archives/archive_2009_05_31-2009_06_06.shtml#1243743745


   Over at The Right Coast, USD law prof. Tom Smith has [1]this
   interesting list of Judge Sotomayor's 50 Most Important Opinions. As I
   understand it, the algorithm he uses to collect the most important
   opinions -- called PreCYdent -- determines which particular opinions
   have been most influential in the development of the law.
   Interestingly, the top three opinions on the list are all immigration
   opinions:

   1. [2]ZHANG v. GONZALES, 426 F.3d 540 (2d Cir. 2005)

   2. [3]LIN v. GONZALES, 445 F.3d 126 (2d Cir. 2006)

   3. [4]BRISSETT v. ASHCROFT, 363 F.3d 130 (2d Cir. 2004).

   I think this suggests that court of appeals judges are likely to have
   the most influence in areas of high-volume appeals -- like immigration
   appeals. Of course, if confirmed, Judge Sotomayor will have for more
   expansive opportunities to influence the development of the law!

References

   1. http://rightcoast.typepad.com/rightcoast/2009/05/judge-sotomayors-top-50-opinions-tom-smith-.html
   2. http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data2/circs/2nd/034803p.pdf
   3. http://bulk.resource.org/courts.gov/c/F3/445/445.F3d.127.03-4989.html
   4. http://bulk.resource.org/courts.gov/c/F3/363/363.F3d.130.01-4168.html