Justice Sotomayor?

The quiet holiday weekend ended with a sudden downpour of e-mails this morning after President Obama announced he was nominating Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court. Every conceivable interest group, and a smattering of politicians, wanted to let me and other media people know how they feel.

Here are just two examples:
From the American Conservative Union: “It is critical that as Senators privately and publicly question Judge Sotomayor that they ensure she doesn’t bring too many ultra liberal, preconceived notions to the bench.”
From Earthjustice: “Judge Sotomayor is well qualified in light of her personal, academic, legal, and judicial experience. Her knowledge, understanding and service as a federal trial and appellate court judge provide invaluable perspectives for deciding environmental protection and related issues …”
These reactions are predictable. I could have written them before knowing who Obama named.
Frankly, I don’t expect Sotomayor to have much trouble getting confirmed. She is replacing a liberal, which means she won’t change the conservative balance of the court.
I am bothered, however, by her statement at Berkeley awhile back that “a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experience” would make better judicial decisions than a white male. What has race got to do with making rulings based on law?
Also, there seems to be a feeling that, politically, Republicans wouldn’t want to be too tough on a Hispanic woman nominee. There are Hispanic voters to consider, after all.
I remember a well-qualified Republican nominee to a lower court named Miguel Estrada who was ruthlessly filibustered by Democrats. Why was that OK?