Judge Sotomayor Gains Support of Law Enforcement

The Thin Blue Line is behind her Supreme Court nomination

If you paid any attention to the mainstream media during the initial days of the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings over the nomination of Bronx-born Judge Sonia Sotomayor, you understand that some white men [spelled Republican Senators] have a problem with her.

They seem to think she is one of those “activist” judges who is a “bully” on the bench and who has some ‘splainin’ to do to the American public. That’s the gist of the racist portrait that has been painted of the judge by her opponents, most fearful in the canyons of their brains of having their conceptual framework of white privilege undermined [reverse racism as they deem it] should she ascend to the high court.

But there is one perspective you have not heard much about, if at all, on the judge’s nomination, and that comes from a group of individuals whom some might say have quite a vested interest in the course of justice. As a result, those folks are paying particular attention to the Sotomayor Senate hearings and the pending vote over whether she should be granted a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court.

That group is the law-enforcement community. And judging by their assessment of Sotomayor, it seems she is the right woman for the bench. So, in tribute to all those White Republican senators now working to undermine Sotomayor’s nomination, we present the following Bronx cheer from the law enforcement community.

First at bat, the Federal Hispanic Law Enforcement Officers Association (FHLEOA).

Dear Senators Leahy and Sessions,

The Federal Hispanic Law Enforcement Officers Association (FHLEOA) is pleased to join the myriad other law enforcement groups and associations throughout our nation in support of the president’s nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to serve as associate justice of the United States Supreme Court.

Judge Sotomayor’s personal story, educational achievements, prosecutorial history, and overall common sense approach and commitment to the law and law enforcement are indeed impressive. But more impressive is the fact that if confirmed, she will bring more federal judicial experience to our highest court than any justice in the last hundred years.

Her record as a public servant is simply outstanding, and her court rulings are indicative of a clear understanding of the law. We believe our nation will be well served with Judge Sotomayor as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.

FHLEOA is proud to endorse the nomination of Judge Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court and we look forward to her quick confirmation by the Senate.

Respectfully,

Sandalio Gonzalez

National President

There's more

But FHLEOA is far from alone in voicing approval for Judge Sotomayor’s nomination to the Supreme Court. Other law enforcement groups that have written letters of support to the Senate Judiciary Committee include the following:

• The Major Cities Chiefs Association

• The Police Executive Research Forum

• The National Sheriffs’ Association

• The National Association of Police Organizations Inc.

• The National Latino Peace Officers Association

• The National Fraternal Order of Police

• The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives

• The National District Attorneys Association

You can view all the letters of support from those organizations at this link.

I wonder whether the senators now standing in opposition to Sotomayor and her view of justice also will be as vocal in voicing their opposition to all of these law enforcement groups on similar grounds.

Could it be that these obstructionist senators are also against “activist” law enforcement, and would prefer that the next time they have to call the police for assistance they are told that the cops at the precinct want to remain completely objective and don’t’ want to respond to that call — for fear of being forced to take a side?

Tortured logic, I admit, but so is the hot air disguised as judicious reasoning that is being directed at Sotomayor by the senators who oppose her nomination to the nation's highest court.