Milestone

I've been following President Obama's Supreme Court nomination process with great interest, and I've been paying close attention to one nominee in particular: Sonia Sotomayer grew up here, lived in the Bronxdale Houses and attended Cardinal Spellman High School. Some legal observers believe that her unique life experience will bring a valuable perspective to the Court. Furthermore, of Puerto Rican descent, she is the first Latina nominee to the highest court.

It has been very interesting to me personally to observe from a front row seat here in the Bronx the process of gradual transition and transformation in a court system once dominated almost entirely by white men, but which now has women and people of color in numerous positions of power ("Who's in Charge?" February 13, 2009). Sonia Sotomayer's nomination, announced today, is truly a milestone in the process.