Sotomayor excites FW Hispanics

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Close to 20,000 Hispanics live in Fort Wayne; many are closely watching Supreme Court Justice nominee Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation hearing.

"The Hispanic community here in Fort Wayne and also in the state of Indiana is very excited about her nomination," says Herb Hernandez, President of the Greater Fort Wayne Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. He says Sotomayor has stirred excitement and pride in the community.

"We know it's a point in history where we're going to not only have a Hispanic on the Supreme Court, but a female latina on the Supreme Court."

Sotomayor's nomination hasn't come without criticism. At her confirmation hearings, she's faced tough questions about her past speeches, her temperament, and her ability to make judgements without letting personal emotions get in the way.

Most recently, Sotomayor was scrutinized for a speech where she says "I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would, more often than not, reach a better conclusion." Some Senators question the meaning of her statement. Hernandez says her words have been taken out of context.

"She was saying that to inspire young latino kids who were listening to her to let her know that if she can do it, they can do it. And so she was just giving a source of inspiration rather than a critique on society's issues with different class levels."

Unless she makes a major mistake, it's likely Sotomayor will breeze through the rest of the confirmation process. Hernandez says her nomination has already done a lot of good for the greater Hispanic community.

"The message here is that someone who is poor, but has the right educational experience, can achieve almost anything. And the thing I like to say is, everything is possible."