KYW's Lynne Adkins talked with a local expert and an area Hispanic group to get reaction to the nomination of federal appeals judge Sonia Sotomayor for the US Supreme Court (see related story).
This nomination is no surprise to Earl Maltz, distinguished professor of law at Rutgers University in Camden, NJ. He says Judge Sotomayor has a lot in common with President Obama:
"Ideologically they are similar -- they are both liberals at some level -- and he was getting a lot of pressure from both women's groups and Hispanic groups, and that makes her the logical choice."
He says that because she's been on the bench for some time it's likely the president knows and is comfortable with her positions on such hot topics as abortion, gay rights, and affirmative action.
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Esperanza is an Hispanic evangelical educational group based in Philadelphia. Rev. Luis Cortes is the president. He calls this a proud day for Latinos all over the country:
"There's been a lot of conversation that the court needed more women and the women's perspective. I think it does that. I also think it helps to have a person to have a person who understands the struggles of people of people in this country from an Hispanic perspective."
He says it should help that she has a long and distinguished career:
"Overall it's a good choice and I'm hoping that she will be confirmed quickly."
Although he admits that the process will probably take a while.
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