In recent years, the U.S. Supreme Court has repeatedly addressed the constitutional boundaries of campaign finance regulation. If confirmed, Judge Sonia Sotomayor would bring to the Court real world experience as a campaign finance regulator – likely a first for the Court. Because it is an experience she and I shared, I wanted to offer a few reflections.

From 1988 – 1992, Judge Sotomayor was one of five founding members of the newly-created New York City Campaign Finance Board. (I then served as Counsel to the Board’s Executive Director.) I remember Judge Sotomayor as thoughtful, detail-oriented, and tough. She along with the other founding members were charged with making a new, untried law an effective and meaningful reform in an incredibly short timeframe. Board members and staff learned from experience. Regulations, opinions, and an approach to enforcement were continually refined – always with an eye toward striking the right balance between the broad aspirations of reform and the reality of trying to make the regime “livable” for candidates who could choose to participate, or not.

Judge Sotomayor never shied away from difficult issues or cases. Indeed, she struck me as utterly immune to external pressures. I also remember her as a quick study, with a clear appreciation for legal nuance.

Judge Sotomayor helped infuse the NYC Campaign Finance Board with qualities that have earned it a national reputation as perhaps the leading local campaign finance regulatory agency. She will therefore bring a unique real-world-tested knowledge of this subject area, as well as a demonstrated capacity for leadership in a collegial body.