Sotomayor Not the First Hispanic Justice

[divemedic]

Even though CNN, along with all of the talking heads in the media, claim that Sotomayor is the first Hispanic Supreme Court Justice, they are wrong. That honor goes to Benjamin Nathan Cardozo, who served on the Supreme Court from 1932 until his death six years later.

Just thought I would throw out some SCOTUS trivia.

[525601minutes]

ummm - no
"he regarded himself as a Sephardic Jew whose ancestors came from the Iberian Peninsula"
People should be allowed to define themselves and not have other people label them.

[blueeagle]

ummm - no
"he regarded himself as a Sephardic Jew whose ancestors came from the Iberian Peninsula"
People should be allowed to define themselves and not have other people label them.

True. And his father knew how to speak English! Thats more than you can say for Sotomayor!

Even though CNN, along with all of the talking heads in the media, claim that Sotomayor is the first Hispanic Supreme Court Justice, they are wrong. That honor goes to Benjamin Nathan Cardozo, who served on the Supreme Court from 1932 until his death six years later.

Just thought I would throw out some SCOTUS trivia.

If you're so smart, why haven't you responded to my thread about Britian's attack on civil liberties?

[divemedic]

ummm - no
"he regarded himself as a Sephardic Jew whose ancestors came from the Iberian Peninsula"

So Jewish people can't be hispanic?

If you're so smart, why haven't you responded to my thread about Britian's attack on civil liberties?

Because I don't care?

[LawResearcherMissy]

So Jewish people can't be hispanic?

In the strictest (geographical) sense, sure. But most Jews of Hispanic descent do not self-identify as Hispanic, preferring to embrace their Jewish identity.

[525601minutes]

It also is really important how they were viewed in their countries. For example - my grandmother came from Poland. She was born there. But because she was Jewish she was not recognized/treated by her county as a regular citizen. On her papers from Ellis Island her nationality is listed as "Hebrew". If you asked about her accent she would tell you "I am American." She would never say "I am (or even WAS) Polish".

If Cordozo's family in Spain or Portugal had any experiences similar to that of my grandparents I can understand why he would self identify as Sephardic instead of Latino. It would be more common for Ashkanazi to assimilate than Sephardic and the further the family gets from being discriminated against certainly plays a key role in their identity.

[aaron]

More very important Supreme Court trivia:

Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.: Not the first American Indian Supreme Court Justice.

Thurgood Marshall: Not the first white Supreme Court Justice.

Samuel Alito: Not the first female Supreme Court Justice.

David Souter: Not the first extraterrestrial Supreme Court Justice (although there is debate in some circles....)

You heard it here first.

[divemedic]

I don't remember the press saying that Alito was a woman, that Marshall was white, or that Souter was from another planet. The thing is, the press is reporting that Sotomayor is the first Hispanic Justice. They are wrong.

[aaron]

By your definition. Not by Cardozo's whose opinion, one would think, should count for something.

You want to keep going on this subject? Use a different forum.