A Latina for the Supreme Court

Twenty years ago I visited the Virginia Supreme Court in Richmond. As a cathedral invokes reverence for the Spirit, the chambers are intended to invoke reverence for the Law.

As I entered the lobby I was struck by the gallery of portraits of former Chief Justices. No whiter, older or more male collection could be imagined.

Governor Baliles to his great credit nominated Leroy Rountree Hassell (black and relatively young) to the Supreme Court in 1989. The Court to its great credit elected Hassell its Chief Justice in 2002.

Now our young black male president nominates a young hispanic female to the Supreme Court of the United States - much to his credit.

As much as I hear the words of Martin Luther King echo in my heart about judging people not by the color of their skin but the content of their character, this is the process by which we may someday get to the promised land.

As Obama stands resolutely in the center (far to my right), Sonia likewise may stand to the right of Justice Souter. A New York Times article characterizes her temperament as unpredictable. I note with some satisfaction the Right's contempt for compassion and empathy. Polecats sometimes show their stripes.