"Once we decide, there is no more hope."

Der Spiegel is running an interview with Justice Sotomayor keyed to the publication of the German version of My Beloved World (aka Meine Geliebte Welt). The interview concludes with some reflections on difficulties associated with having the final word on matters that are important to society. Because the Court's decisions are "final," it is hard for Justices in the majority to know that "there's a loser," "another side who is going to feel something negative about what has happened." And, the interview concludes, "[o]nce we decide, there is no more hope."

Perhaps something was lost in translation.

Surely the Supreme Court's supremacy does not extend to the elimination of hope. After all, spe salvi facti sumus; and that hope does not depend on the views of five out of nine.