Supreme Court Nominee Sonia Sotomayor is no stranger to GW.

Back in 2006, the federal judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals served as a judge for GW Law School’s Moot Court competition, after a request from fellow Yale alumnus Frederick Lawrence, Dean of the GW Law School.

Lawrence said he remembers Sotomayor fondly, both from their time at Yale and when Sotomayor came back for the competition.

“She has a rare combination of a powerful influence but at the same time a deep sense of responsibility to humanity,” Lawrence said.

He said he thinks the Hispanic judge will be a good addition to the court if approved by Senate, something he sees as a good possibility.

“I think it is a strong nomination. She adds the trial experience that is currently lacking in the Supreme Court,” Lawrence said.

After the Moot Court competition, Lawrence said he was impressed by the dedication Sotomayor put into the whole event, noting that the judge opened herself up to both students and faculty at the awards ceremony where she stayed for over an hour to answer questions.

As Americans begin to learn more about Sotomayor’s background, Lawrence said he thinks they will see the “kind-hearted” person he knew while at Yale.

“She has a great sense of humor and she never takes her self too seriously,” he said.