The Buffalo News - Joy, Ambivalence Greet Nomination

By Jerry Zremski, Washington Bureau Chief

WASHINGTON From the chambers of the lone Hispanic judge in upstate New York to the offices of the New York senators who had been pushing Sonia Sotomayor for appointment to the U. S. Supreme Court, Tuesday was a day of great joy.

But for Republicans and conservative interest groups spoiling for a fight, the nomination of the nations first Hispanic Supreme Court justice was cause for great ambivalence.

For proof, just listen to Buffalo City Judge Betty Calvo-Torres and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

I think this is going to serve as an inspiration for many generations of children, particularly those of Hispanic descent, said Calvo-Torres, the only Hispanic judge in the upstate region, who lauded Sotomayors stellar reputation and up-by-her-bootstraps personal history.

McConnell, meanwhile, stopped far short of declaring war on the nominee.

Senate Republicans will treat Judge Sotomayor fairly, McConnell said. But we will thoroughly examine her record to ensure she understands that the role of a jurist in our democracy is to apply the law evenhandedly, despite their own feelings or personal or political preferences.

McConnell was by no means the only Republican who chose caution over confrontation in reacting to the selection.

Perhaps most notably of all, Sen. Olympia Snowe a moderate Republican from Maine whose vote would be needed to sustain a nomination-killing filibuster praised the selection.

I commend President Obama for nominating a well-qualified woman, said Snowe, who added that she had to study Sotomayors record further before officially endorsing her.

Opposing Sotomayor could be a losing battle for Republicans for another reason: It would likely enrage a fast-growing political constituency that reacted to Sotomayors appointment much like black America reacted to Obamas election.

I am elated, said Hilda Ramos, 54, a Spanish teacher in Buffalo who originally hailed from Puerto Rico, as does Sotomayors family. Its great for my culture. . . . Now we have a role model on the Supreme Court.

The nomination, said Calvo-Torres, also is great for the nation.

The judiciary must be a reflection of the community it serves and the nation it serves, the Buffalo City Court judge said. This is a great step toward making the bench reflective of the nation.

New Yorks two Democratic senators and New York Gov. David E. Paterson who all had pushed Sotomayors nomination offered similar words of praise.

Given her track record of excellence and moderation, and her life story, its going to be very hard for any senator, Republican or Democrat, to vote against her, Sen. Charles E. Schumer said.

Schumer joined Sen. Kirsten E. Gillibrand in writing a letter to Obama earlier this month suggesting that he appoint a Hispanic justice and mentioning Sotomayor as a great choice.

In Albany, Paterson noted that he honored the judge at a March event with one of this years Women of Excellence awards. He also said he followed up with a letter to Obama about Sotomayors credentials.

We wanted to let him know we had a candidate from right here in New York, Paterson said at an event where Hispanic legislators celebrated the selection.

No celebration was noticeable in Republican ranks, which issued a series of sober statements about the confirmation process ahead.

We must determine if Ms. Sotomayor understands that the proper role of a judge is to act as a neutral umpire of the law, calling balls and strikes fairly without regard to ones own personal preferences or political views, said Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., the Judiciary Committees top Republican.

Some conservative groups, latching onto Sotomayors comment that the U. S. appeals courts are where policy is made, painted her as left-wing judicial activist.

This nomination raises serious questions about the issue of legislating from the bench, said Jay Sekulow, chief counsel of the conservative American Center for Law and Justice.

But Douglas Johnson, legislative director of the National Right to Life Committee, chose a less confrontational approach.

What we have seen of Judge Sotomayors record so far sheds little light on her views regarding how the Constitution bears on the powers of elected lawmakers to protect the right to life of unborn children, Johnson said.

And Larry Klayman, a veteran conservative activist who was a nemesis of Democratic President Bill Clinton all through the 1990s, reacted to the Sotomayor selection more like a political analyst than a political antagonist.

While I would have liked to see a more conservative libertarian type on the high court, President Obamas selection of New York federal appeals court Judge Sonia Sotomayor was a very prudent and wise decision from a far left liberal like Obama, Klayman said.