HFJ: Romney Attack Ads Featuring Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor Are Shameful

Mitt Romney has run ads attacking Rick Santorum for joining the bipartisan group of Senators who voted to confirm Sotomayor

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Hispanics for a Fair Judiciary today criticized Mitt Romney for running ads pandering to political extremes by attacking Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.  The ads target Rick Santorum who—along with an overwhelming, bipartisan majority—voted, in 1998, to confirm Sotomayor to the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals.  In 2009, Sotomayor became the first Hispanic Supreme Court Justice, once again receiving bipartisan support in the Senate.

The organization issued the following statement:

“Mitt Romney’s attacks on Justice Sotomayor are yet another disappointing attempt to pander to the far right at the expense of the Hispanic community, the future of our country, and our highest court.  By attempting to score cheap political points, Romney disparages the life’s work of one of the Supreme Court’s most qualified and respected justices.  Justice Sotomayor is an inspiration to millions, her rise from poverty embodies the American Dream, and her credentials to serve are impeccable.  Romney claims to be a leader, but these ads show how low he is willing to stoop.

“When President Obama nominated Sonia Sotomayor to serve on the Supreme Court, she had more federal judicial experience that any nominee in the past 100 years.  With her outstanding resume came respect from her colleagues as a moderate, by-the-book judge who strictly adhered to our laws and constitution. Her extraordinary life story—from an impoverished childhood in the South Bronx to Yale Law School to the federal bench—forced even her detractors to praise her credentials.  Since being confirmed to the high court, Sotomayor has cemented her reputation as a fair and tenacious jurist.”

Hispanics for a Fair Judiciary (HFJ) was formed in April 2005 in order to provide Hispanic leaders across the nation a platform and voice in matters related to our nation's judicial system. HFJ is an unaffiliated, non-partisan, independent network of elected officials, legal, civil rights, labor, academic and political leaders who care deeply about the impact that the judiciary has on the Latino community.