Oh happy day mi gente! President Barack Obama delivered what we had hoped President Clinton would give us, a Latino nomination for the Supreme Court, Judge Sonia Sotomayor. I don’t have much to add, but I have blogged about Judge Sotomayor before here on another site. As noted, she endured a whisper campaign to discredit her intellect. Two of the more compelling articles I have found about Judge Sotomayor, who has a remarkable story of overcoming her own adversity are from the NY Times who credited her as a “baseball savior” and today’s White House talking points noting her “legal sophistication” and “common sense understanding of how the law practically works.” She is known as a moderate, first appointed by President George H.W. Bush to the Court of the Southern District of NY and then to the Second Circuit by President Clinton. I’m hoping that her ability to work with more conservative minds will ease her confirmation process, but you never know these days with how the GOP has been behaving.
Check out a bit of today’s press conference today, and feel free to chime in with your own thoughts:
Edited to add–
If you want to see the whole press conference, you can watch it here:
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35 responses so far ↓
1 xxxicana // May 26, 2009 at 8:28 am
Orale!!! I’m glad to see that Obama hasn’t forgotten about the peeps that voted him in. Sotomayor is a fantastic candidate that will add significant diversity in terms of her: gender, ethnicity, socio-economic background, disability. I’m also pleased that she recognizes that yes, one’s background INFORMS (but does not necessarily determine) one’s decisions. This has always been the case with the WASP elite — they just don’t have to recognize it!
2 Seneca // May 26, 2009 at 9:20 am
Sotomayor is a great day for the overall Latino community. Perhaps some like a former MALDEF leader will lament the fact that the first Latino Supreme Court justice is not a Mexican American as it was expected by the MALDEF leadership…as she once told Miguel Estrada (a Honduran American), the unsuccessful Bush nominee for the Appeals Court …
3 Paula Alcala Rosner // May 26, 2009 at 9:27 am
We must not let the joy that we now feel get in the way of standing ready to give Judge Sonia Sotomayor our full support in winning the appointment to the Supreme Court. We must be prepared to make the phone calls, send the faxes and emails and send the support letters to members of Congress. They must all know that she has the full support of the largest minority population in the United States of America. Get ready to start campaigning, people.
4 Anna // May 26, 2009 at 10:22 am
I’m glad that Obama picked the highly qualified Sotomayor. My hope is that she blocks his unconstitutional preventive detention program.
5 Michaelr // May 26, 2009 at 10:42 am
How can you not admire this person? She rose above all those Third World cultural underpinnings, and in the process has discarded all those negative standard Latino stereotypes. This is a person of Latino heritage that we can all be extremely proud of. She is bound to undoubtedly incur the wrath of Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas if she survives the vetting process. And you can bet Orrin Hatch from Utah is going to make her confirmation process absolutely miserable.
6 sam // May 26, 2009 at 11:02 am
i just want to say as black woman i have been waiting for this bec i belive like every black kid that on jan 20 that got too see only the sky is the limit now i am sooooooo happy that every latino kid will see only the sky is the limit and dont let any one tell them that the sky is the limit, i cant wait to go to D.C to see this day it is long over do what happy day lets do jan 20 all over agine when it is time for sotomayor cant wait what day….
7 Ramon // May 26, 2009 at 11:59 am
I applaud the nomination of Judge Sotomayor to the Supreme Court. However, it troubles me that the President or the media still don’t know Latinos very well. According to MSNBC.com, President Obama said, “Along the way, she’s faced down barriers, overcome the odds and lived out the American dream that brought her parents here so long ago.” Another article states that her parents immigrated from Puerto Rico. The dominant society still continues to view all Latinos as recent immigrants even though many of us have lived in this country for hundreds of year. Puerto Ricans are not immigrants. They are US citizens regardless if they live in Puerto Rico or on the mainland.
Ramon
8 webmaster // May 26, 2009 at 12:34 pm
“Another article states that her parents immigrated from Puerto Rico. ”
Ramon, I agree that Sotomayor is a citizen and that her parents are citizens, but some in the Puerto Rican community are saying that they are “citizen immigrants” meaning that those coming from the island feel that they too have an immigrant experience. It is a complexity related to Puerto Rico’s status as a territory or unincorporated state.
I’m learning all of this too, as someone who has not immersed herself in Puerto Rican history. But I’m sure that traditional media is painting Sotomayor as an “immigrant” because immigrant=bad to so many.
9 BettyM // May 26, 2009 at 12:53 pm
I agree with all the comments on your blog regarding her nomination – hope her confirmation goes smoothly (it should be –she is great!!).
10 jammer // May 26, 2009 at 1:02 pm
I have a profound respect for Judge Sotomayor. Not only will she represent Latinos and Women honorably; She will represent all Americans proudly. Her standing in the legal community can’t be questioned, and those who do do so to advance their own agendas. Already the attack dogs from the far right have started sniping about Her being too liberal. Wasn’t she appointed to the Appellate Court by none other then George H.W. Bush?
the Republicans who are sure to fight this simply to thwart President Obama better be careful because what they will be saying is we don’t want Latinos in our tent. I reaaly don’t care if she or her parents are classified as immigrants. Judge Sotomayor is qualified. Let’s rejoice in that! May she have a long and fruitful appointment.
11 Mexitli // May 26, 2009 at 1:45 pm
“Wasn’t she appointed to the Appellate Court by none other then George H.W. Bush?”
Yes, but back then the “House” usually let the president know who would sail through. She was green lighted first by Moynihan.
12 Mexitli // May 26, 2009 at 1:47 pm
ehh, Moynihan was a senator. In the House it was Tip O’Neill.
Sorry, for the confusion.
13 HispanicPundit // May 26, 2009 at 6:23 pm
She would not be my first choice but given the circumstances, that Obama won the presidency and that Democrats control both house of congress, this is better that can be expected for a Judicial appointment.
In other words, Republicans would be dumb to try and block her.
14 Marie // May 26, 2009 at 7:11 pm
Oh great, another judge that likes to legislate from the bench. JUST what this country needs. *eye roll*
15 The Anvil // May 27, 2009 at 10:50 am
This is indeed good news for Hispanics.
16 Anna // May 27, 2009 at 4:08 pm
You know….we don’t know her positions on any of the issues yet. What does she think of preventive detention and other instances of unchecked executive power? Roe v Wade? Immigration? She doesn’t really have a paper trail in these areas.
I hope the Senators ask her about these issues.
17 Mexitli // May 27, 2009 at 8:19 pm
Anna “You know….we don’t know her positions on any of the issues yet. ”
I was talking to one of my cousins today and she told me Sotomayor has made over 3000 decisions so I imagine that soon her opinions will start to bubble up to the surface.
She’s only been reversed 3 times. This firefighter thing might be #4.
I read she’e pro-choice.
I read some things about her college days but I do not think it’s relevant.
18 Mexitli // May 28, 2009 at 2:29 am
Some views on Sotomayor and abortion:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/28/us/politics/28abortion.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss
19 Anna // May 28, 2009 at 9:59 am
Re: “Sotomayor has made over 3000 decisions so I imagine that soon her opinions will start to bubble up to the surface.”
Yeah, but not too many are on a woman’s right to choose or on executive privledge. Her views are still unknown, and if this were any other Democratic president I would trust his choice, but I don’t trust Obama at all.
20 reenee // May 28, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Interesting commentary. Sonia Sotomayor might be just what the Supremes need to balance out the tight on the right. It won’t be easy for her being the newbie, but since it appears that she does indeed have a spine, she will no doubt be able to hold her own and make a difference.
21 theKaiser // May 29, 2009 at 9:38 am
My sentiments exactly…no one wants another Clarence Thomas like jurist who simply copies Scalia’s legal opinions.
22 WhatThe.. // May 29, 2009 at 3:18 pm
I would have preferred California Supreme Court Associate Justice Carlos R. Moreno, but if Sonia Sotomayor is going to be taken seriously she needs to be careful what she says or be tagged as someone who doesn’t make constitutional decisions based on fairness, compared to decisions based on empathy and the origins of her background. Sotomayor told the Berkeley Law School: “Our gender and national origins may and will make a difference in our judging . . .I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experience would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn’t lived that life.” Imagine a white chief justice stating, “I would hope that a wise Anglo Man with the richness of his experience would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a Latina Woman who hasn’t lived that life.”
23 Bearguez // May 29, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Carlos Moreno would be suffering from similar verbal trash talk from the GOP, FOX News, and AM Talk Radio. It’s doesn’t matter what candidate of color President Obama picked. Actually, any candidate Obama nominated was going to go through this attack.
24 rebecca // May 29, 2009 at 9:38 pm
I am excited about the nomination of Sotomayor, but I am deeply, offended by the attacks by Limbaugh, Gingrich, and Beck calling Sotomayor a racist. Imagine Limbaugh calling someone else a racist. Today he said she was the equivalent of the KKK. Latinos should not stand for this. This kind of race baiting is terrible for race relations in this country.
25 Miss Karma // May 30, 2009 at 11:52 am
Sam, as a Black woman also, I couldn’t agree with you more. I am from NY and like Biz Markie once rapped “Damn it feels to see people up on it.” She is (one of ) the American story.
Bearguez, you’re also correct, Obama could’ve nominated Jesus Christ himself and these nutjob fearmongers would’ve asked for things like oh…a birth certificate, a paternity test, etc. It’s amazing how these ignoramuses complain about Blacks and Latinos playing the race card when they’re playing the whole deck every chance they get.
26 Anna // May 30, 2009 at 5:16 pm
The Republican idiots can whine all they want, but Sotomayor will be confirmed. She’s highly qualified and they can’t take that away from her. They can’t criticize her work, so they have to call her shrill, bossy, and even a racist. lol
27 Anna // May 30, 2009 at 5:19 pm
Re: “I would have preferred California Supreme Court Associate Justice Carlos R. Moreno”
I like him too, but he’s the only Democrat on the California Supreme Court. If he were gone, Arnold would chosse his replacement. No thanks! We need Moreno here.
28 WhatThe.. // May 31, 2009 at 11:16 am
Thank God racism is only a white anglo phoenomenom. I was beginning to think blacks, latinos and others were capable as well.
29 DoctorH // Jun 2, 2009 at 12:47 pm
I think David Gregory of NBC’s “Meet the Press,” may have cleverly shamed U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions-R Alabama into rethinking his strategic questioning of Sonia Sotomayor on his show Sunday morning. It was a brilliant display of direct questioning that we haven’t seen on “Meet the Press” in decades.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-sotomayor-senate3-2009jun03,0,7796649.story
Now I wonder if Orrin Hatch-R Utah is going to be the jackass who introduces Rush Limbaugh’s rhetoric into the hearings.
30 Bearguez // Jun 2, 2009 at 4:45 pm
Isn’t it appalling that not one member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and I am including the Sanchez sisters has come to the defense of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayer? Not even a simple congratulations, or way to go sister, or even an “Oodalay?” What does this say about the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and I am again including the Sanchez sisters here? Could it be that they’re working overtime on pertinent legislation that will lift Latino voters from the bottom of America’s social ladder? Or is this Supreme Court nominee just too accomplished to be recognized by this group of politicians? Those of us who follow the actions of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus are not surprised by this. However, we should all be appalled by this behavior from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, including the Sanchez sisters.
31 DelToro // Jun 3, 2009 at 5:25 pm
Miguel Estrada? Anyone? Anyone? Hmmm. I wonder why his story wasn’t as compeling? He had it much harder than Sotomayor. I think I may know why he wasn’t as liked and so do many of you.
32 Anna // Jun 3, 2009 at 6:42 pm
Estrada was a right wing wacko who had no experience as a judge.
33 Professor Y // Jun 3, 2009 at 7:32 pm
I encourage everyone to contact their Congressional repsas well as the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to let them know we demand their enthusiastic support for Judge Sotomayor. If they don’t then don’t expect our votes for them during the next election!
34 DelToro // Jun 3, 2009 at 7:59 pm
“Estrada was a right wing wacko who had no experience as a judge”.
Ideology being the problem huh Anna?
Sotomayor’s comments regarding her ethnicity and judgement vs. “white males” is disgusting. Only after she was called on it did she say she regretted her words. In the post-racial election the truth is ethno-polotics has become the order of the day. It is hypocritical and sad. But what would you expect when statements about Congressional seats being for a particular race is order of the day?
35 theKaiser // Jun 6, 2009 at 12:48 pm
Sonia Sotomayer doesn’t own any high end foreign cars. She drives an old Honda civic, and it doesn’t have 22” rims. She is charitable with her friends and has no huge hidden assets tied up in a shell corporation in Panama. She has average credit card debt and prefers baseball games to gala events. She shops at a wholesale club, and doesn’t fly out to Orange County so she can be seen at the South Coast Plaza. Merchants who deal with her say she never condescends to them when she contemplates a purchase. She is a self made woman, scholastically brilliant, and has worked her way up the judicial ladder through the admiration and earned respect of her legal peers. Of course members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus aren’t going to be supportive of her. And neither will Anheuser-Busch’s MALDEF. They want someone who is reflective of their values. And Sonia Sotomayer doesn’t fit that description.
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