Congressman Nydia Velazquez - Op Ed from El Diario

Feb 28, 2009

One of the greatest privileges of the presidency is the ability to appoint Supreme Court justices. Nine out of the last ten presidents have done so, with Jimmy Carter being the one exception. In fact, only a handful of presidents have not had this distinct honor. Given the odds, it is likely that Barack Obama will get a chance to make his own nomination. In doing so, he will have a unique opportunity to give a historically excluded community a seat at the table.

It is high time for a Latino or Latina to serve on this nation’s highest court. We now make up 15 percent of the U.S population, and by 2050 that number is expected to reach 30 percent. As the fastest growing community in the nation, we have a deep pool of talent to draw from. Already, Hispanic leaders from new Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to recently confirmed Labor Secretary Hilda Solis are changing the face of American leadership. The presence of a Hispanic Supreme Court Justice would underscore the growing influence of our community, and would bring pride to millions. Just as importantly, it would inspire greater confidence in the integrity of the process, and contribute to the quality of judicial decisions.

Because the Supreme Court is the highest judicial body in the United States, its actions deeply impact the lives of ordinary people. It has the power to protect our liberties, and to uphold the highest ideals of American democracy. At the same time, it can close the courthouse door to those seeking relief from discrimination, prejudice and all forms of injustice. That is why the composition of the Court is so critical and why it must reflect the population and the hopes and aspirations of the people it serves. A Justice who has shared the life experiences of the least privileged among us would bring a valuable perspective to the promises of the Founding Fathers. He or she should also be an outstanding figure in the community who has impeccable academic credentials and work experience. Of course, any nominee must be intellectually honest, of the highest integrity and must possess sound judgment, outstanding character and a profound sense of fairness.

Our standards are lofty, but our hope is realistic. Greater diversification of the High Court to include, for the first time, a Judge of Latino/a heritage, can only serve to further broaden the contours of justice. I call upon the President to see that the highest court in the land becomes all that it can be and nominate-when the time comes-a Latino/a to our highest court so that this nation can live up to the words engraved in stone on the Supreme Court: “Equal Justice Under Law.”

Nydia M. Velazquez, U.S. Representative
Chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus