Urban League Supports Sotomayor Nomination

National Urban League President & CEO Marc Morial released the following statement regarding President Obama;s Supreme Court nomination:

The National Urban League commends President Obama for his decision to nominate Judge Sonia Sotomayor to be the next Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court.

Judge Sotomayor appears to be an eminently qualified judge with the intellectual heft, strong record and common touch that is needed in a Supreme Court justice. We believe the President has made an outstanding choice.

Because of the National Urban League’s long-standing commitment to civil rights and social justice, we have a unique responsibility to our constituents to carefully evaluate and influence important national issues, including nominations to the United States federal courts, which play a critical role in protecting the civil rights of African Americans.

In evaluating a federal judicial nomination, the National Urban League’s primary concern is whether a nominee\’s record demonstrates a commitment to upholding civil rights, equality of opportunity and social justice.   Our initial review of Judge Sotomayor\’s record indicates that she meets these criteria.

Prior to this nomination, the National Urban League shared our views with the President and senior Administration officials.  We are pleased that the President took such great thought and care in this tremendously important appointment and sought the input of the National Urban League and many other diverse groups.  The result is the selection of a highly qualified nominee whom we believe will make an outstanding Supreme Court Justice.

We urge the Senate to promptly move forward on Judge Sotomayor\’s nomination and look forward to continuing to work with President Obama on this and future judicial nominations to ensure that our nation\’s courts fulfill their mission of ensuring equal justice under the law to all.