Question

Write a paragraph summarizing the central idea of Sotomayor’s speech. Include key details that Sotomayor uses to support her idea.

Answer 1

In Sotomayor's lecture A Latina judge voice, the main idea is that "our gender and national origins may and will make a difference in our judging." She, as a Latin woman judge, quotes several statistics of women and people of color in the American Judiciary system to show how much improvement there has been made and remains to be made. Since "there is no objective stance but only a series of perspectives - no neutrality, no escape from choice in judging", unbiased is impossible, a more diverse set of judges with differents backgrounds and experiences would do a better work in judging such a diverse society as the American is. She will try to "judge when those opinions, sympathies and prejudices are appropriate", when her background, cultural heritage and experience are so, as the Supreme Court suggests.

Answer 2

Sample Response: The central idea of Sotomayor’s speech is that ethnic diversity is important to America, yet sometimes we live in a way that does not honor our nation’s diversity.  Sotomayor consistently cites the importance of her diverse upbringing, showing a clear love for cultural identity. She uses statistics and facts to demonstrate the lack of diversity in judgeships. Sotomayor also declares how important her diversity is in inspiring the way she lives her life.