Judge Sonia Sotomayor's judicial approach is deeply rooted in identity politics, as evidenced by her rulings that consistently favor minorities, often irrespective of the case's merits. In the Ricci v. DeStefano case, involving New Haven firefighters, she upheld a lower court decision supporting the city's refusal to certify test results that promoted only whites and one Hispanic, reflecting a stance aligned with racial considerations over individual achievement. Similarly, in Gant v. Wallingford Board of Education, although forced to agree with the dismissal of a harassment claim due to lack of evidence, she dissented on the discrimination claim, suggesting that race likely influenced the school's decision to demote a black student, contrary to its policies and typical treatment of white students. Columnist Linda Chavez, testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee, criticized Sotomayor for embracing identity politics, noting that her record shows a clear bias that undermines the ideal of a color-blind society and instead prioritizes power over equality.