Today, Gov. Jerry Brown nominated UC Berkeley law professor Goodwin Liu to the California Supreme Court. Shortly after, Assemblyman Tony Mendoza, whose district includes Buena Park, issued a statement about the pick. In it, he congratulates Liu, yada yada, and then takes a shot at the governor for failing to choose a candidate “who would better reflect the diversity of California.” Read: a Latino.
See Mendoza's statement after the jump.
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“I congratulate Goodwin Liu on his recent nomination by Governor Jerry Brown to replace Associate Justice Carlos Moreno, the only Latino Justice on the California Supreme Court. Professor Liu's credentials are exceptional and I, along with my fellow members of the California Latino Legislative Caucus, am looking forward to getting to know him.Unfortunately, with this appointment Governor Brown has missed an opportunity to designate a candidate to the Supreme Court who would better reflect the diversity of California.The Latino Legislative Caucus has been working closely with the Governor's office submitting various recommendations of highly qualified Latino candidates to state boards, commissions, and judicial posts and will continue working with Governor Brown on future appointments and on issues of great importance to our community.”
If confirmed, Liu would give the seven-member state high court a fourth Asian American justice, forming an unprecedented majority.
The California Latino Legislative Caucus has urged Brown to name another Latino to succeed Moreno. It states on its website: “We strongly believe that the Latino Caucus agenda is, in reality, the American Agenda.”
