Back to the Future

President Barack Obama has officially nominated Federal Appeals Court Judge Sonia Sotomayor as his pick to replace, the retiring Justice David Souter, for Supreme Court Justice. In his first choice, our new President has not avoided controversy but, appears to have used that Chicago Political savvy, to nominate a person that will be nearly impossible, for the GOP to turn down. There will be challenges to make a good appearance but, Judge Sotomayor has more than enough credentials to fill the position effectively through her term.

In 1991, then Senator Daniel Patrick Monyihan made a recommendation to then President George Herbert Walker Bush, to nominate Attorney Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. President Bush took that suggestion and made his nomination in November of that year. Judge Sotomayor was confirmed by an almost unanimous Senate the following August. In 1997, Senator Monyihan again recommended Judge Sotomayor for an appointment to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. During that year, her nomination was made by then President William Jefferson Clinton. She was confirmed to that position in October of the following year by an overwhelming majority. In 2005, Senate Democrats recommended Judge Sotomayor for Supreme Court Justice. However, then President George Walker Bush, instead nominated Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr., who was later confirmed.

Judge Sotomayor’s minority background is interesting. Her educational credentials are impressive. Her life and the achievements she has made are inspirational, not only too minorities, but to all Americans regardless of nationality or gender. But, there are doubts about her ability to interpret the laws without bias and activism. I have researched many websites to obtain opinions she has made in many of the cases she has presided on. In my opinion, she does appear to slant to the left, much as Judge Souter did, whom she is replacing. I would say about half of her decisions appear to end reversed in higher court rulings. But, what has disturbed me about this judge is the decision she made, in regard to, the case of Ricci V. DeStefano, the New Haven Fire Fighter reverse discrimination lawsuit. I hope this is not a signal from the Obama administration that we are heading back to the 60’s and 70’s when racial tensions were high. We have come a long way since then. Racial intolerance and understanding between all races has reached a point where the younger generation shows all of us how to coexist and appreciate our diversity in today’s society. We do not need an administration that is going to push an agenda that has a need, to get even. This is not wanted nor is it needed. I feel if the agenda of this administration is to do so then, we are going Back to the Future instead of continuing to move forward.

If activism is the goal, I hope she is not confirmed. But, looking at the bi-partisan support she has had in the past, she could be the very reason President Obama selected her. Good Ole Chicago Politics.

That’s How I See It.

Websites of reference;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonia_Sotomayor#Previous_rulings
http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/judge-sotomayors-appellate-opinions-in-civil-cases/
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/05/26/sotomayor.resume/index.html?iref=mpstoryview
http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=45d56e6f-f497-4b19-9c63-04e10199a085
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Background-on-Judge-Sonia-Sotomayor/
http://judgepedia.org/index.php/Sonia_Sotomayor