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Court's diversification 'good for the country'

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By KEVIN WIATROWSKI

kwiatrowski@tampatrib.com

Published: August 9, 2009

TAMPA - At the West Tampa Sandwich Shop and Restaurant, a North Armenia Avenue eatery patronized by many Hispanics and a stopover for any Democrat visiting Tampa, Saturday morning's brief televised ceremony making Sonia Sotomayor the first Hispanic member of the U.S. Supreme Court could be seen on the wall-mounted TV.

The din of conversation and clatter of dishes drowned out the sound. Closed-captioning provided the text of Sotomayor's oath, administered by Chief Justice John Roberts.

"This woman was put through so much hell and in five seconds it's over," said Yolanda Menendez, eating breakfast with friends and her fiance, Fernando Perez.

Sotomayor is of Puerto Rican descent. Alberto Padron, having breakfast with his 15-year-old son, Daniel, saw the swearing-in as a moment of pride for all Hispanics, regardless of their national identity.

"It's always important for a Hispanic to be sworn in to a high position," Padron said.

Menendez, a 67-year-old native of Ybor City, said she hopes Sotomayor will bring more political balance to the court.

"I think it's a great thing," she said. "It's good for the country to have a little bit of everybody on the Supreme Court."

Reporter Kevin Wiatrowski can be reached at (813) 731-8168.

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