Judge Sotomayor and Community Leadership
Over the last week, President Obama's choice for the Supreme Court of the United States--Judge Sonia Sotomayor--has dominated the news. Predictably, we have heard from the usual array of legal scholars, political pundits and legislators representing views across the political spectrum but there has been little coverage from those that this nomination will most impact.
Sonia Mayor grew up in housing projects in the Bronx--the kind of New York community in which many North Star Fund grantee groups organize. She's an extraordinary example of what can happen when people have options because of reliable housing, healthcare, and in Judge Sotomayor's case especially, education. This article in the New York Times provides a good background on her childhood, education, and professional career. More than just having an impressive career, Sotomayor emerged as a leader in her field and remains personally committed to a more just world.
If confirmed, Judge Sotomayor will be the first woman of color to sit on the highest court in the country. What do you think about this historic nomination? Will it impact your community, and what does this nomination mean to those of us committed to promoting equality, economic and peace? It's your turn to weigh in...
As a Latina woman, I am thrilled with the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor for the Supreme Court. She has more legal experience than previously appointed Supreme Court justices and seems to be a fair-minded individual.
It is important for our highest court to aligned with our country's demographics. Hence, the importance of a Latino to the bench. On a broader context, demographically there are more women than men; therfore, five women and four men on the bench would be more equitable.
Let the history books reflect that we now have a president that little black boy’s can lookup to with pride and say like never before “one day this could be me” and if confirmed we will have a judge that little girls of color can also emulate with pride and without hesitation. This is truly a wonderful time for us all.