Click the play button on the video window to the right to see the storyArizona State University Law Professor Paul Bender has argued before the US Supreme Court dozens of times.
Bender holds Justice David Souter in high regard but says President Barack Obama has found a suitable replacement in Sonya Sotomayor.
"We're losing someone who's been a valuable member of the court," said Bender of Souter. "As far as I know (Sotomayor) is as good as anybody to replace him."
If confirmed, Sotomayor would become only the third female and first Latina on the nation's highest bench.
"(We're) very happy to see a Latina, a Puerto Rican with sound judicial experience and life experience be nominated to the Supreme Court," said Argie Gomez, Chief Operating Officer for Chicanos por la Causa.
Outside the Superior Court Complex in downtown Phoenix, people on their lunch breaks Tuesday applauded Obama's choice.
"I think it's great," said Katie Scott of Goodyear. "We finally have someone trying something different."
"I think it's good," said Larry Little of Mesa. "(Sotomayor) gives some balance to the court."
"I think it's great," said Ed Haramina, known as Ed the Hotdogger. "For the first time we have a Latina on the Supreme Court."
Professor Bender says having a Latina on the court will benefit Arizona's Hispanic community.
"There are a lot of legal issues that affect Hispanics that don't affect other people," said Bender. "It's important to have that perspective on the court."
