Sonia Sotomoyer Makes History

President Obama named his nominee for the Supreme Court today, federal appeals court judge Sonia Sotomayor. Sotomayor's parents are from Puerto Rico, although she lost her father when she was nine. Raised by her mother in the Bronx, she decided she was going to be a judge when she was still a young girl. With her vision clear, Sotomayor went on to receive an education at both Princeton and Yale, and then built up a thickly laid foundation of judicial experience. She was named a district judge by both President George HW Bush, and President Clinton.

If Sonia Sotomayor is accepted by the Republicans, then she will become the first Hispanic high court justice, and the second female on the Supreme Court, following Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Despite her experience and qualifications, the critics are already out, jumping on comments that she had made about integrating her identity into her decision making. Those in the conservative camp, such as Pat Buchanan, who have even gone so far to call her an affirmative action pick, saying she should be disqualified because she believes that her being a hispanic woman will shape her decisions. The "white man standard" feels threatened. Some opponents to Obama's pick are also trying to paint empathy to be one of the seven sins, something that Sotomayor is supposedly loaded with. Richard Epstein, a professor at the University of Chicago Law says, "My initial reaction to the Sotomayor nomination is one of deep disappointment...I am never quite sure what empathy means anyhow in dealing with a legal dispute." Empathy, the ability to put yourself in someone else's shoes, has everything to do with passing fair, objective judgments. The logic is, as a minority and a woman, as well as an American with a humble background, she will be able to care, she will have heart in her judgement. As sacred as "law" may be, the potential of a humanitarian voice can't be all that bad.

Regardless, these are only assumptions and projections. Sotomayer has always been true to what she believes to be her interpretation of the law. As the Republicans and conservatives voice their opposition in the coming weeks, we are sure to be in for a conversation on race and equality in America. As the fastest growing minority, hispanics have both the Republicans and Democrats re-mapping their policies. There is really nothing either side can do but embrace her and embrace another baby step towards fair representation of the people. After Sotomayer, who is next?