Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) says Supreme Court Nominee Sonia Sotomayor could inspire young women, particularly young latinas, to enter a career in law. The Senator goes on to say that America changed for the better following her selection. (0:22)
Rep. Charles Gonzalez says the Congressional Hispanic Caucus wrote a letter to President Barack Obama on April 29, requesting that he consider the appointing a Latino in the event of a vacancy on the Supreme Cout. He says the President responded that he would consider two things in seeking appointments at all levels, excellence and diversity. On May 1, Justice David Souter announced his resignation. Gonzalez says there was no compromise in seeking both excellence and diversity when the President nominated Judge Sonia Sotomayor. (0:52)
By Courtney Ann Jackson-Talk Radio News Service
Senator Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) spoke out Tuesday in support of Judge Sonia Sotomayor’s Supreme Court nomination. Menendez was joined by representatives from the National Latino Peace Officers Association and the Hispanic National Bar Association. The focus of the discussion was Sotomayor’s strong commitment to equality, justice and law enforcement.
“Let me make one thing perfectly clear, we get to be proud of this nominee because she is exceptionally qualified, first and foremost. We get to be proud of her vast knowledge of the law, her practical experience fighting crime and her proven record of dedication to equal justice under the law,” said Menendez.
He said that he is proud to have the opportunity to cast a vote in support of President Obama’s nomination of Sotomayor and he believes she is clearly the right person for the job.
The law enforcement officials who spoke emphasized her work in the fight against crime. Menendez noted that there are many different professional dimensions to Sotomayor’s experience and her commitment to law enforcement is just one aspect. The Senator said all of Sotomayor’s qualities will be highlighted during the confirmation period.
Said Chief Art Acevedo, the President of the National Latino Peace Officers Association, “One of the things that impresses law enforcement about the Judge is the fact that she has worked on the streets in the front line seeing first hand as a prosecutor in New York the challenges faced by the communities we serve, the challenges faced by the law enforcement community and more importantly the challenges we face as a nation.”
Menendez and the other leaders noted Sotomayor’s judicial experience, and said they are committed to promoting a fair confirmation process by the U.S. Senate.
“Sonia Sotomayor’s nomination to be a Justice of the Supreme Court is a proud moment for America,” Menendez said. “It’s proof that the American dream is in reach for everyone willing to work hard, play by the rules, give back to their communities, regardless of their ethnicity, gender or social economic background. And it’s further proof of the deep roots the Hispanic community has in this country.”
Reynaldo Valencia, Professor and Associate Dean at St. Mary’s University School of Law, discusses the importance of the U.S. Supreme Court decisions concerning the Latino community and how the Hispanics for a Fair Judiciary has worked to inform Latinos of this issue. (0:59)
By Courtney Ann Jackson-Talk Radio News Service
A group of Latino leaders expressed their full support of Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor on Capitol Hill today. A number of leaders from organizations such as the National Hispanic Bar Association (HNBA) and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund met with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to discuss Sotomayor, who is undergoing a confirmation process with the U.S. Senate.
“At a time in our history, when the Supreme Court is constantly balancing he expansion of law enforcement against individual rights, it is critical that a justice understand the real life consequences the opinions of the highest court in the land have on the lives of the Latinos.” said John Amaya, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund Legislative Staff Attorney. “We strongly believe that Judge Sotomayor has the experience and legal judgement that will best serve all Americans.”
In a press release, the Hispanics for a Fair Judiciary (HFJ) said that Sotomayor’s perspective would be critical to the increasing number of cases that are being heard before the Supreme Court that ultimately affect the Latino and immigrant communities.
Reid said just as much as he can’t change who he is and what his life experiences are, “She can’t change who she is. She is going to rely on her life experiences in writing her opinions. That’s who she is. She has made 3,400 decisions while she has been a member of the federal judiciary. She has written opinions on hundreds of those decisions that she’s made and her life story is part of her opinions,” he said.
Sotomayor also continued her meetings with senators on Capitol Hill today. She met with Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) this morning. Following their meeting, Menendez said he fully supports Sotomayor and praised her for her depth of judicial experience.
Menendez said he finds her “incredibly well qualified and with an enormous intellectual prowess that I think the committee will see when she answers questions.”
Political Science Professor Christine Sierra, of University of New Mexico talks about how [Senator] John McCain (R-Ariz) is making New Mexico’s voters, and specifically Latino voters, an aggressive part of his campaign. However, she says, the “Obama staff” [Senator Barack Obama (D-IL)] is being won in the ground war, because of how he is staffing his offices in New Mexico. (0:54)
Rep. Hilda Solis (D-Calif.) says that she is a product of an immigrant family that has benefited from government programs designed to help Latinos. These opportunities have allowed her to serve in the US House of Represenatives, and she says that Barack Obama will bring these opportunities to all Americans (:30).
Rep. Jose Serrano (D-N.Y.) says that the message to Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) brings to the Latino community is that he was not kidding when he spoke of change for the United States. He also says that Obama’s $20 million commitment to Latino outreach is unprecedented, and the money will show Latino’s can make a difference in this year’s presidential election (:44).
At the 25th annual conference of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) says Latino elected officials and voters have the power to make change and that their votes are important. (0:35)
