We need somebody who's got the heart, the empathy, to recognize what it's like to be a young teenage mom, the empathy to understand what it's like to be poor or African-American or gay or disabled or old - and that's the criterion by which I'll be selecting my judges.

Summary

This quote emphasizes the importance of empathy in individuals who hold positions of power and influence, specifically in selecting judges. It suggests that to truly understand and make fair judgments, it is necessary for judges to have personal experiences or a deep understanding of the challenges faced by different groups in society. They should have the ability to empathize with diverse backgrounds, such as being a young teenage mother, being poor, belonging to racially or sexually marginalized groups, or being disabled or elderly. By prioritizing empathy, it implies that judges with a broader range of perspectives can contribute to creating a more just and inclusive legal system.

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