News

NLPOA Goes to Washington, D.C. to Endorse Sotomayor Nomination

Published June 23, 2009

LPOANJ President Hector Ramos joined NLPOA president Art Acevedo and presidents from several other state chapters at a press conference on Capitol Hill in support of U.S. Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor. The group traveled to Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 to participate in the event.

The NLPOA contingent started the day out by meeting with New Jersey members of the House and Senate. They also participated in various interviews (in both Spanish and English) with print and television outlets. The day culminated with a private audience with the Honorable Sonia Sotomayor.

The National Latino Peace Officers Association is just one of many national law enforcement organizations to endorse the Sotomayor nomination. Other organizations include the National Sheriffs Association, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives and the Fraternal Order of Police.

Vice President Joseph Biden, in addressing the support from these organization, made the following statement:

“Sonia Sotomayor’s lifelong commitment to law enforcement is hard to argue with. She knows firsthand the brave work of the police force in fighting crime. She has worked together with the officers and detectives on the front lines, gathering evidence and building fact by fact, witness by witness, the cases that would result in putting criminals behind bars.”

NLPOA President Art Acevedo lauded Sotomayor’s lifelong commitment to equality, justice and opportunity. Citing her distinguished record of professional accomplishments as judge, prosecutor and community leader, Acevedo said the NLPOA enthusiastically supports Judge Sonia Sotomayor as the next Supreme Court Justice of the United States of America.

Currently a judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, Sotomayor graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Princeton and went on to earn her Juris Doctorate from Yale Law School.

LPOANJ President Hector Ramos expressed hope that the Senate Judiciary Committee, which will begin confirmation hearings on July 13, 2009, will conduct a fair and responsible hearing. If confirmed, the jurist will be the first Hispanic to sit on the highest court in the land.

National Journal Online: Menendez, Hispanic Groups Tout Sotomayor

PolitickerNJ.com: Menendez, Law Enforcement and Hispanic National Bar Association Praise Sotomayor Record