Sotomayor: It's important that Supreme Court not be seen as 'institution for entertainment'

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor on Thursday said that the High Court should not be viewed as an "institution for entertainment."

The justice was asked in an appearance on the "Tamron Hall Show" how she feels about the Supreme Court entering pop culture and becoming popular with younger people.

"I do think it's important not to think about the Court as an institution for entertainment," Sotomayor said.

"We are there engaged in a very serious inquiry with parties who have very significant cases before us and they want to ensure that we are not playing to a larger audience but that we are really concentrated on them and their issues," she added.

The Supreme Court has long worked to shield itself from politics and outside influences but has increasingly been viewed as partisan in the polarized political climate.

The comment from Sotomayor came a day after Justice Stephen Beyer announced his retirement, giving President Biden a chance to nominate a new justice for the bench.

Biden has pledged to nominate the first Black woman to the position.

"I've made no decision except one: The person I will nominate will be someone with extraordinary qualifications, character experience and integrity," Biden said Thursday.

"And that person will be the first Black woman ever nominated to the United States Supreme Court. It's long overdue, in my view. I made that commitment during my campaign for president, and I will keep that commitment."