Chocolate City: The Best African American Blog

Judge Sonia Sotomayor, 54 year-old, nominated to replace retiring Justice David Souter on the U.S. Supreme Court.

President Obama should be commended for an excellent move in nominating a great, talented and highly qualified individual. The president was right when he noted in his speech that Sotomayor has more experience as a judge than any current member of the high court had when nominated, adding she has earned the "respect of colleagues on the bench, the admiration of many lawyers who argue cases in her court and the adoration of her clerks, who look to her as a mentor."

Judge Sotomayor was born in the Bronx and grew up in a public housing project in the vicinity of the stadium of her favorite team, the New York Yankees. She and her younger brother were raised by her mother. Born of Puerto Rican parents, she is a self-described "Newyorkrican". Thanks to her mother, the value of education instilled in her at an early age is being reflective today. She is a former editor of the Yale Law School Journal where she obtained her law degree. She also graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University.

Immediately after the president’s announcement, our staff tuned in to the talk show circuits to hear what the American people were saying about her nomination. In comparing notes from our listening experiences, we concluded that most white males callers were already in arms against her nomination. A majority of them were racist and elitist in their limited opinions.

Ordinary white males were not the only ones injecting their venomous attacks against one of the most qualified candidate for the Supreme Court. Republican so-called spokesman Rush Limbaugh already started throwing mud by referring to the judge as a “token Hispanic”, "racist" and a "hack" on his radio show. Within the next 48 hours, I suspect that the Senate Republicans will likely start making comments about the need to review her record or paint a picture of a liberal judge. The conservative groups are also starting to wage a vigorous campaign against this outstanding nomination. In fact, Senate Republicans are no stranger to Judge Sotomayor, they are already on record of voting against her. In 1997, when President Bill Clinton picked her for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit, Senator Trend Lott blocked her nomination for more than a year because he feared she was being lined up for a spot on the Supreme Court. Well, Mr. Lott and associates you were right with your prophetic words, she will be the next Supreme Court justice.

When confirmed, Judge Sotomayor will be the nation’s first Hispanic Supreme Court justice. If the cream of the crop of qualified judges includes a woman, an African American or an Hispanic – so be it. The rule of law has to be and must be interpreted by people that represent a broad spectrum of “we the people,” of the United States of America.

I am ecstatic that we have an enlightened President who understands the needs of the Nation and the importance of maintaining a diversified Bench, said Maria Matos, president of the Puerto Rican Bar Association.

“This is a historical day, not only for the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Community, but for the whole Nation,” she added.

Anything is possible in America if a person works hard enough, no matter their race, gender or economic status.

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