As President Trump's supporters launch a verbal assault on the judiciary.
The liberal justice stated at the event that the founders established a "pretty incredible checks and balances system."
"Our founders were resolute in their determination that we should not have a monarchy," Sotomayor said.
The 'power of the purse,' the presidency the 'power of the military', including armed forces and law enforcement, and the courts the 'power to interpret.'
Sotomayor contended that the judiciary must exercise its authority through persuasion, thus wielding the power of reason.
She called it a "soft power," but argued it's the most powerful because Congress can allocate and withdraw funds, the president is constrained by a four-year term and the need to run for reelection, but judicial decisions are permanent.
"It doesn't matter whether one particular person decides to follow them or not, it doesn't change the fact that it's still a court order that someone will have to comply with at some point," Sotomayor said.
"That's the faith I have in our system. And that other actors in the system, whether it's Congress or others, will follow the law because it's what we all take an oath of office to do," she said.
Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor made her comments during a Miami, Florida event, where she was being interviewed by Knight Foundation President and CEO Maribel Pérez Wadsworth on Tuesday.
Wadsworth inquired of Sotomayor about the relationship between the branches of government and the system of checks and balances.
The 70-year-old judge did not mention Trump or any member of his administration by name and made it clear that she was speaking in a broader context.
The answer comes as members of the Trump administration have been criticizing the courts and judges, as the president's agenda has encountered a series of legal hurdles during his first weeks back in office.
The Trump administration's plans to stop granting birthright citizenship, halt federal funding, fire some government employees, offer resignation options, take down government websites, and provide access to government systems have all been blocked by the courts.
The president has announced his intention to appeal the rulings, while others close to him have taken it a step further by arguing that the judiciary lacks the power to review certain aspects of his decisions.
Vice President JD Vance alleged on social media on Sunday that judges do not possess the authority to regulate the executive branch's "legitimate power."
A federal judge on Monday accused the Trump administration of violating a court order to release billions of dollars in federal grants. It came just weeks after the court blocked the administration's attempt to freeze funding.
Democracies and constitutional experts have cautioned that the nation is on the brink of a constitutional crisis unless the executive branch complies with judicial decisions.
Certain Republicans in the US Congress have also expressed opposition to the administration's refusal to comply with court orders.
Speaking earlier during the event, Justice Sotomayor also elaborated further on her perspective on the court system and the position of judges.
Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor stated that laws are not strictly black and white, but rather exist in a grey area. She noted that "very few laws are written in such precise terms that one can clearly define its exact boundaries." She further explained that judges must interpret the parameters of laws based on the language used when it is written.
The judge argued that the courts are not a tool for social change, but rather an 'enforcer of the laws.' She stated that most of the time, the court does not lead public opinion, but noted that there are exceptions.
The question on checks and balances was raised during the discussion after Sotomayor had mentioned President Dwight Eisenhower and whether he would enforce desegregation.
There was a question as to whether Eisenhower would send the police, the marshals to do that, and he did," Sotomayor said. "He followed the law even though he personally disagreed with it.
In essence, the court usually follows public opinion, but that's not always the case.
Wadsworth commented on Sotomayor's remarks about Eisenhower and enforcing the law, describing it as a timely topic, which received a laugh from the audience.
Sotomayor smiled enigmatically as she replied, "I'm not getting too much into that", which brought further laughter to the room.
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