Wise Latina Diccia T. Pineda-Kirwan for State Supreme Court

Dominican-born Judge Diccia T. Pineda-Kirwan has been asked by the Democratic Judicial Convention to accept the nomination for a vacancy on the State of New York Supreme Court bench.

Judge Pineda-Kirwan, who’s currently a Civil Court Judge in New York City’s Queens County, was nominated by the Queens Democratic Organization as a candidate for the State Supreme Court vacancy in the 11th Judicial District. She’ll be on the ballot for the General Election on Tuesday, November 3, 2009 for the state-wide bench.

If elected, Judge Pineda-Kirwan will be the first Latina to serve in New York’s Supreme Court.

Cesar Perales & The Latino Struggle

Civil rights leader Cesar Perales recently went to Washington, D.C. to offer his opinion on the woman who may become the next Supreme Court justice. It's the latest chapter in an illustrious career which includes city, state and federal government work, plus helping those who can't help themselves through LatinoJustice, a civil rights agency he founded in the early 1970's.

All Latinos in New York--indeed, in the country--owe a deep measure of gratitude to Cesar Perales, a tireless fighter for Latino rights. Borikua. Americano. Hero.

Cesar Perales On The Latino Struggle:


Link: One On 1: Cesar Perales Discusses The Latino Struggle
TAVIS SMILEY Guest: Cesar Perales PBS

Sonia Sotomayor's Gutsy Start in '78

At the tender age 24, a daring Sonia Sotomayor took on an elite Manhattan law firm -- and won!

So reports the LATimes (At Yale, Sotomayor won apology from law firm - 5/28/09):

While interviewing for jobs during her final year of school, [Sotomayor] accused the firm, then known as Shaw, Pittman, Potts & Trowbridge, of discriminating against her by asking questions about the qualifications of Puerto Ricans and other minorities.

Sotomayor's complaint caused a campus furor. A student-faculty panel found the complaint warranted and ordered Shaw Pittman to write her a letter of apology.

That incident speaks volumes for why Sotomayor is the perfect choice to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. No shrinking violet...Sotomayor had the guts to take on a wrong -- even if it jeopardized her career with the uber powerful Manhattan corporate legal establishment.

Sotomayor's challenge caused the law firm to reconsider its ways. Remarkably, that firm is now recognized as a leader in diversity. Now that's change we can believe in!

How many Supreme wannabes would dare such a thing?

Sonia Sotomayor: Supreme Niuyorican!

President Barack Obama has nominated Appellate Court Judge Sonia Sotomayor for the U.S. Supreme Court. If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Sotomayor will become the first member of Latino heritage to serve on the nation's highest court.

From the AP (Obama picks Sotomayor for high court):

Judge Sonia Sotomayor is a self-described "Niuyorican" who grew up in a Bronx housing project after her parents moved to New York from Puerto Rico. She has dealt with diabetes since age 8 and lost her father at age 9, growing up under the care of her mother in humble surroundings. As a girl, inspired by the Perry Mason television show, she knew she wanted to be a judge.

A graduate of Princeton University and Yale Law School, a former prosecutor and private attorney, Sotomayor became a federal judge for the Southern District of New York in 1992.

As a judge, she has a bipartisan pedigree. She was first appointed by a Republican, President George H.W. Bush, then named an appeals judge by President Bill Clinton in 1997.