Why did Far Left Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor have the ACLU pay for her 1st class ticket to Puerto Rico?

Unlike Justice Thomas, Sotomayor has not benefited economically from groups interested in the outcomes of cases while sitting on the bench. What she did 30 years ago and who paid her legitimate speaking fees and expenses is really not a major concern. Presumably, the ACLU paid because they wanted to hear what she had to say. Her position on the death penalty and other issues were well known during her confirmation and as long as she and her family don't take money from them while on the Court (like Thomas), I have no problem with that.