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O’Connor’s resignation prompts hope for Hispanic justice

(Note: Appointing a "Hispanic" judge to the Supreme Court just to put a "minority" there is a poor reason. Alberto Gonzales still raises multitudinous Red Flags as he is meteorically pushed up the hierarchy by globalists. Language deception reigns supreme. Notice that knowledge of and the championing of the United States Constitution is never mentioned. "Women's rights" and "affirmative action" are language deception, their very mention raises Red Flags.)

July 10, 2005

By Ann McArthur amcarthur@brownsvilleherald.com

The Brownsville Herald

Brownsville, Texas

http://www.brownsvilleherald.com

To submit a Letter to the Editor: tgarcia@link.freedom.com

Janet Leal was an excited college student in 1981 when Justice Sandra Day O’Connor became the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court.

Now as a county judge, Leal is disappointed to watch O’Connor resign from the bench.

“It was unreal to see a woman on the Supreme Court,” said the Cameron County Court At-Law No. 1 judge. “Having a woman on the bench gave other women, including myself, a great role model.”

The country expected the next vacant spot on the Supreme Court to be left by 80-year-old chief, William H. Rehnquist. But after the surprise of Sandra Day O’Connor’s resignation July 1, Brownsville residents face not only losing the representation of a fellow Texan, but also of a woman.

Some residents are embracing the possibility of a Hispanic voice filling the spot.

Juliet V. Garcia, president of the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College, said she already has a favorite pick for the appointment.

“McAllen Federal Judge Ricardo Hinojosa needs to be considered,” Garcia said. “He grew up here in the Rio Grande Valley, went to UT-Austin then to Harvard Law, and is now chairman of the sentencing commission. He is a brilliant jurist and an honest man.”

Garcia recalled the support O’Connor garnered upon her appointment, and suspects a Hispanic appointment would also cede a large cheering section.

“O’Connor received more letters of congratulations than any other justice in history because she represented a whole new group of people,” Garcia said. “If a Hispanic is named, I would imagine a similar reaction would be given by the Hispanic community, as that person would also fill a vacuum and a perspective that is important in this day and age.”

Although O’Connor insists there is no such thing as a good female judge, but just a good judge, she made decisions on the bench that have benefited women and other minorities.

In 1981 O’Connor refused to condemn the 1973 Roe V. Wade ruling on women’s right to abortion, and in 2003 she cast the deciding vote to uphold admissions policies favoring racial minorities at universities.

“O’Connor was the swing vote on important issues, but beyond that she represented a woman with a career and family,” Garcia said. “It is my hope that the resident will consider someone with her insight and balance, as a mother, wife, daughter and person. That is an important perspective to have when making decisions about affirmative action and women’s issues.”

Leal, among three women on the bench in Cameron County, doesn't want to see the country regress.

“I would love to see another woman on the court, but I would love to see another Sandra Day O’Connor,” Leal said. “It would be sad to see the advances of women get hurt. You can't tell me there aren't qualified women like O’Connor to appoint.”

Planned Parenthood is also hoping for another justice on the Supreme Court that will keep women’s issues in mind.

The organization has already started a campaign through its state office in Austin targeting state senators.

“We want to ensure the president nominates a justice that follows the Constitution and protects women’s rights,” said Joey De le Garza, public affairs director for Planned Parenthood in Willacy and Cameron counties.

Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez and Emilio Garza are two Hispanic Texans that are said to be on the president’s short list of possible replacements. Some Brownsville residents think a Hispanic appointment would be timely.

“Hispanics are becoming a large part of the population across the nation,” said Todd Bender a Rio Grande Valley home builder. “A Hispanic voice would follow that trend.”

Some residents are already certain a Hispanic will replace O’Connor.

“A Hispanic on the bench would not be a surprise. I expect it to happen as Hispanics are moving up,” said Victor Tamayo, deputy bailiff at the district courthouse. “Times are changing, and it’s a good change.”

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