on A Racially-Conscious America II

The confirmation of President Obama’s choice of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court could be another historic milestone. If confirmed Sotomayor will become the first Hispanic to sit on the Supreme Court.

As conservatives build their case against Sotomayor, one of the cases they are paying attention to is her ruling on Ricci v. Destefano. In 2008 Sotomayor supported the city of New Haven Fire Department after they threw out a test that was to be used for promotions after too few minorities scored high enough on it. Ironically enough, if Sotomayor is confirmed soon, she may end of ruling again on the case which is currently being reviewed by the Supreme Court.

Sotomayor has said, “Personal experiences affect the facts that judges choose to see.” She goes on to acknowledge, “I simply do not know exactly what the difference will be in my judging. But I accept there will be some based on my gender and Latina heritage.”

Obama’s nomination is illustrative of how we are attempting to address the question I posed on my first blog about “A Racially-Conscious America.”

How does America move forward from a history of injustices?

Though not everybody may agree on the method, bringing diversity to the various branches of government and ensuring that multiple perspectives are represented is our current answer to this question. With a Yale and Princeton pedigree, Sotomayor also has more experience as a judge than any of the other sitting justices had when they were nominated. There is no question that she is qualified, and her status as a minority female will bring a unique and beneficial perspective to a panel that is dominated by white males.

So let the battles begin.