Editor:
I have been watching Judge Sonia Sotomoyer’s confirmation hearing on the news and what I have seen and heard is very disturbing to me.
Judge Sotomoyer has been criticized for comments she has made in her history of making speeches as a Latina judge as well as an educated Latina woman.
I find it very disturbing to hear that Senator John Cornyn from Texas had the nerve to say that if Judge Sotomoyer continues to makes speeches the way she has made speeches in the past, then we have a problem.
Where does Senator Cornyn get the idea that “we” have a problem? Maybe Senator Cornyn has a problem listening to people like Judge Sotomoyer, a Latina woman.
Is Judge Sotomoyer not allowed to speak or make speeches as a Latina woman judge? Is Judge Sotomoyer not allowed to express herself as a Latina judge in the manner the law is to be interpreted or viewed?
How is it okay that a German-American or an Irish-American judge may make their views on how the law is to be interpreted or decided? And the same goes for an African American and/or white American woman?
Judge Sotomoyer is being judged and looked at as a Latina woman judge and not as an educated woman of the law. And then one wonders that racism still exists in our country.
It is a sad day in America knowing that we have individuals in congress that are still demonstrating their poor judgement of character on a woman like Judge Sotomoyer or any other person who is not of white descent.
Senator John Cornyn should consider himself a very lucky man that he lives in the beautiful state of Texas and the beautiful country of the United States of America where there is freedom of speech and where there are people like me guarding and defending that freedom in Iraq.
Let it be said that people like myself that are bilingual and bicultured, are also fortunate to be able to think and use logic in two different cultures and languages.
Richard Sanchez
Woodsboro
Having worked with reading and interpreting legal statutes from our own Legislature in Texas, I can certainly state that there are usually ambiguities and nuances in those laws. I also know that two people from similar backgrounds can read the same law and come to completely different conclusions as to what is written or intended. Senator Cornyn once again exemplifies the arrogance of closed-minded individuals that their version of events is fact, and that nobody is allowed to think otherwise.
A female Latino or white male or black female judge should all come to the same conclusion on a case if truely decide by the law. One's background has no revelance to it. With Sotomoyer, if she is using her beliefs and values as a Latino and her beliefs and values as a woman to decide a case, then a fair desicion cannot be rendered by the law.
All judges must seperate themselves from their own beliefs, life experiences, race, gender and philosophies in order to give the individuals in their court room the fairest trail possible.