Participating from room 216 of the Hart Senate Office Building, Representative Gonzalez, chairman of the Hispanic Judiciary Initiative for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), talked about the confirmation hearings for U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge Samuel A. Alito, Jr. Among the topics he addressed were voting rights, civil rights, respect for minority districts from which minorities have a chance of being elected, independent judge versus deference to the White House, and the need for Hispanics on key courts. The guest responded to telephone calls and electronic mail.

Representative Gonzalez created the CHC’s Hispanic Judiciary Initiative to identify and recommend qualified Hispanic candidates to fill federal court vacancies. He is a witness scheduled to testify on September 12, 2006 at the hearing. He is also a former municipal, county, and state judge.