Sotomayor's remarks not racist

Robert Graham (Fence Post June 7) implied Sonia Sotomayor's comments about her life experience as a Latina female were racist, because she belongs to a Hispanic group called La Raza, which he characterized as racist.

Hispanic is an ethnicity, and female is a gender. Where does race fit into her comment? And, "la raza" also translates as "the people" or "the community." The National Council of La Raza is described as a private, nonprofit, and nonpartisan organization focused on reducing poverty and discrimination, and improving opportunities, for Hispanic Americans.

Judge Sotomayor's comments about the richness of her heritage and gender demonstrate the empathy that President Obama was looking for in his nominee. Justice Sam Alito, in his confirmation hearings, used the same approach, saying his family's immigrant experience shaped his judicial outlook. Unfortunately, Alito's votes on the court rarely demonstrate this purported empathy. Chief Justice John Roberts, a product of a privileged childhood, consistently votes in favor of corporations.

How could any good judge completely ignore or eliminate his or her life experience when passing judgment? In this very diverse country called the United States, there should be a better balance on the Supreme Court. Seven white males out of nine judges is not a balanced reflection of America.

Mr. Graham went on to write that Judge Sotomayor will be more radical than Justice David Souter, appointed to the Supreme Court by liberal President George H.W. Bush, because she made the comment that judges make policy. Mr. Graham may be surprised to learn Justice Anthony Scalia made a similar radical remark that in fact, the judges of inferior courts often "make law," since the precedent of the highest court does not cover every situation, and not every case is reviewed.

Mr. Graham's efforts to portray Sonia Sotomayor as a racist, radical jurist have failed.

Diane Niesman

Wheaton