Justice Sotomayor comes out swinging in 'irregular' Trump case: 'I'm hard pressed'

Justice Sonia Sotomayor had sharp questions as the Supreme Court hears arguments Wednesday in the case involving Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, who was fired from the Federal Reserve board on social media by President Donald Trump over accusations of mortgage fraud.

The significant case Trump v. Cook has raised questions over the federal independence of the central bank and whether she should be able to continue to stay in office while the high court decides if she can be fired by the president, according to the Associated Press.

The high court's decision was expected to have a lasting impact over how future presidents could influence or fire Fed governors and in a separate problem — whether the President's Truth Social post violated Cook's due process rights, The New York Times reported. Her lawyers argue that Trump acted in haste when he posted that she had two choices: resign or be fired. Cook has not been charged with any crimes.

Sotomayor spoke to this question presented in the unusual case.

"This whole case is irregular, starting with the Truth Social notice... But that's where we are," Sotomayor said, shared in a post by journalist Adam Klasfeld on X.

"This is a new standard I've never heard of before. In an informal proceeding, the president can go by social media, and one believes that that is adequate notice under law. I'm hard pressed to think that a letter from a lawyer is not notice from the adversary," Sotomayor said.

Sotomayor is among three liberal-leaning judges expected to side with Cook. Conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh expressed skepticism over Trump's case and has expressed concern over the Federal Reserve's independence.