Sotomayor Debate Begins in PA

Hispanic communities in Pennsylvania are excited about Judge Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the Supreme Court. None of the 110 Supreme Court Justices in United States history have been Hispanic. Philadelphia lawyer and the president of the Hispanic Bar Association of Pennsylvania
Teresa Rodriguez says Hispanic representation on the court is overdue, but adds that even without this historic factor, Sotomayor is a dynamic court nominee. She says,” This is a person with great educational fortitude. Someone who also brings diversity of perspective. And someone who has led an amazing, incredible and compelling personal story.” Interest groups are already gearing up for the nomination process. Liberal advocate Keystone Progress is urging supporters to email Pennsylvania Senators Arlen Specter and Bob Casey, to ask them to support Sotomayor's nomination. The nomination is stirring groups on both sides of the political spectrum. Michael Ciccocioppo, the president of the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation, says he's concerned Sotomayor will be another vote in support of abortion rights, and a judicial activist. He says he disagrees with President Obama's call for a Justice with "empathy." “That's not the role of the Supreme Court, to be empathetic. The role of the Supreme Court is to look at the Constitution, to look at the law, and then to decide whether the law is Constitutional or not” says Ciccocioppo. The liberal group Keystone Progress has already begun an email campaign directed at Pennsylvania Senators Bob Casey and Arlen Specter. They're asking supporters to contact the two Democrats to urge them to support Sotomayor's nomination.