Hispanics and the Courts
People For the American Way, a leader in educating Americans about the importance of the federal courts to individuals and families, is working closely with Hispanic leaders to encourage more thorough discussion in English and Spanish language media and communities about the impact of future Supreme Court nominations on the lives and liberties of Hispanic/Latino Americans.
Essential ResourcesSamuel Alito: The Wrong Choice for Hispanic Americans Alito's Record is Hostile to the Interests of Hispanic Americans The Supreme Court and Civil Rights: A Timeline of Recent Gains (PDF) PFAW Foundation Report: NLIHR Primer: Recommended Reading: |
Hispanic/Latino OrganizationsHispanic Federation opposes Alito: Statement MALDEF opposes Samuel Alito: Statement | Report American Association for Affirmative Action Announces “Serious Reservations” About Supreme Court Nominee Samuel Alito Hispanics for a Fair Judiciary: Alito memo called for denying constitutional protections to non- U.S. Citizens, causes alarm among Hispanic leaders Colorado Hispanic Bar Association opposes Judge Alito: |
Groups Opposed to Alito:Hispanic Federation
Center for New Community |
The Latest:
Download and Distribute: The Nomination of Judge Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court puts hard-won advances for Hispanic Americans at risk.
Hispanic Civil Rights Groups Urge No Vote on Cloture: Read the Press Release.
NALEO Board of Directors Opposes Confirmation of Samuel L. Alito: Read the Press Release.
Hearings reinforce fears that Samuel Alito will be hostile to the interests of the Hispanic community:
Read more (PDF, 64 KB)
Hispanic Caucus opposes Alito Nomination. Read the Press Release.
Sen. Ken Salazar (CO-D) Announces “No” Vote on Alito. Read the Press Release.
National Latino Organizations and Leaders Come Together to Oppose the Confirmation of Judge Samuel A. Alito to the Supreme Court
Washington, DC – On Thursday, January 19th, 2006, LULAC, MALDEF, Hispanic Federation, LCLAA and Hispanics for a Fair Judiciary will join together in opposition to Judge Samuel A. Alito’s nomination to the Supreme Court. The stakes for the Latino community are very high: the Supreme Court makes decisions that will have a lasting impact on the lives of Latinos every day. Read the release (PDF, 75 KB)
La Opinion: Confirmación de Alito (Alito Confirmation)
Alter 18 hours of questioning and approximately 700 questions, we know little more about Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito. He intelligently eluded the most difficult questions, leaving the impresión that his presence on the Supreme Court has the potencial to dangerously expand presidencial power and reduce individual protections. His lack of candor showed when he was unable to remember his membership in a questionable Princeton University association. Despite all this, it looks like he will be confirmed.
Rubén Navarrette: Inconsistencias de un nominado (A nominee's inconsistency)
Navarrette, the author of this Op-Ed, liked Alito when he was nominated, but now he doesn't. When he was applying for other jobs he boasted about how abortion was not sanctioned in the Constitution and about how he was a member Concerned Alumni of Princeton. Now that he is up for confirmation to the Supreme Court, a different job, how do we know that he is telling the truth? His record seems to say otherwise.
MALDEF: Denying Birthright Citizenship Becomes Issue in Alito Hearing (Download Press Release)
Al Dia: Alito me encantaba, pero ahora tengo fuertes dudas (I loved Alito, but now I have doubts)
Navarrette has liked Alito since he was nominated. But recently he is less sure. It has to do with Alito’s participation and support of a Princeton group which he boasted membership of to the Department of Justice, but now can’t seem to remember anything about. The group, Concerned Alumni of Princeton, is against affirmative action and thinks the school should lower its admission rates of women and minorities. Has Alito suddenly developed a selective memory?
Dolores Huerta: ALITO: Elección incorrecta para los hispanos (Alito: Wrong choice for Hispanics)
The US is a country we are all proud of. It has made great strides in the past 40 years in many areas including liberty, justice and impartiality. Unfortunately, the nomination of Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court does not contribute to this forward progress. By looking at past decisions of his, it is clear that he bases his verdicts on personal opinion as much as legal opinion. There is no room for this type of ideological philosophy in the US Supreme Court.
La Opinion: Alito no es para la Suprema Corte (Alito is not for the Supreme Court)
Alito has the legal and professional experience to be nominated to the Supreme Court, but he lacks the judicial philosophy that guarantees that the highest court will follow the path of justice for all Americans. Alito, if confirmed, would break the equilibrium and the Court would begin to lean towards a vision that would be prejudicial to individual rights. With regard to Hispanics and the current immigration debate, this could be a disaster.
Rumba: Alito ha sido duro con inmigrantes (Alito has been hard on immigrants)
Much has been made of Supreme Court nominee Judge Samuel A. Alito's record on subjects such as abortion (he is "personally opposed" to it) and his general support for greater presidential power. Alito's view on immigration -- an increasingly polarizing issue in America -- have barely drawn notice. Those of us concerned about the rights of immigrants must push our senators to take seriously their constitutional responsibility to confirm a Supreme Court justice committed to the rights and freedoms of everyone in the United States -- including immigrants.
PFAW Report: Samuel Alito - The Wrong Choice for Hispanic Americans | Spanish Version
PFAW: Alito’s Record is Hostile to the Interests of Hispanic Americans | Spanish Version
Videos:
Testimony of Congressman Charlie Gonzalez at Judiciary Committee confirmation 
hearings
Congressman Gonzalez reviews serious concerns about Judge Alito’s judicial reasoning in areas ranging from discrimination in jury selection, Voting Rights Act violations, the Constitutional rights of non-citizens. Commerce Clause application, civil rights abuses, equal employment opportunity, discrimination based on race or gender.
Watch the video: Broadband | Dial-Up and Read the transcript
Congressman Charles Gonzalez (D-TX), Reginald Turner and Theodore Shaw on the question of diversity on the court. In response to the question from Sen. Kennedy: “Should it make a difference?? Does it make a difference?”
Watch the video: Broadband | Dial-Up and Read the transcript
What Others Are Saying:
Democratic Congresswomen Oppose Alito Nomination
The Mexican American Legislative Caucus (MALC) Expresses Frustration at Third Strike Against Latino Representation on U.S. Supreme Court
Latina Institute opposes conservative extremist Supreme Court nominee Saumuel Alito
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) on the Alito pick: Bush misses another opportunity to nominate a Hispanic to the Supreme Court
Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) on the President's Refusal to Name Hispanic Supreme Court Justice
Congressional Hispanic Congress (CHC) "Troubled with Right-Wing Supreme Court Nominee" Samuel Alito