Hispanic Groups Urge Obama to Pick Latino for High Court

Even before David Souter’s retirement plans became public, leaders of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus sent President Obama a letter asking him to fill any Supreme Court vacancy with a Latino justice, the Hill reports. Wednesday’s missive praises Obama for appointing Hispanics to key positions—including two Cabinet posts—but notes the dearth of Hispanic justices in federal courts.

“Though we make up 15% of the US population, less than 4% of federal judges are of Hispanic descent and not one has served on our nation’s highest court,” the leaders wrote. Other prominent Hispanic groups are pledging to join the fight. The head of one nonprofit said, “The community is going to galvanize around this.” (More Hispanic stories.)