WATERLOO - Local reaction to the nomination of federal appeals judge Sonia Sotomayor to U.S. Supreme Court largely fell along party lines.

Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee which will preside over the confirmation proceedings, said a lifetime appointment to the court deserves a thorough vetting of the candidate, and that the Senate and the Judiciary Committee should ensure any nominee will "apply the law, not personal politics, feelings or preferences.

"We need to ask tough questions to learn how this individual views the role of a Supreme Court justice," Grassley, of New Hartford, continued. "The last 25 years of Senate review of nominees had been entirely different than the first 200 years, and today the Senate can't just be a rubber stamp for President Obama's nominees."

Democrats hailed the choice of a Hispanic woman from a working class background, saying she will enrich the court by bringing a different world view to the bench.

Miryam Antunez de Mayolo, an immigration attorney from Cedar Falls who hails from Peru, said the nomination of Sotomayor, whom she called "extremely intelligent," represents the diversity that makes the country exceptional.

"Just having this background as someone who grew up poor, and in a very dangerous part of New York City, who made it this far and who grew up without a father, that's something she's going to take to the bench with her, if she is confirmed," she said.

Don Wood, chairman of Black Hawk County Republicans, questioned claims Sotomayor's life experiences are somehow a qualification for the bench.

"I'm afraid we're getting away from the obligation and intent of a Supreme Court justice. They're supposed to interpret the law, not take into account the backgrounds of plaintiffs or litigants," Wood said. "I am fearful this person will in fact have a liberal agenda."

Wood said he also fears Republicans will be painted as mean-spirited if they question Sotomayor's nomination, even though Democrats have harshly critiqued past Republican nominees like Clarence Thomas and Robert Bork.

Ed Gallagher Jr., Waterloo attorney and prominent Democrat, said Sotomayor appears to be highly qualified. He hopes her appointment to the federal bench by Republican President George H.W. Bush will help ease partisan fears.

He also said appointing a Hispanic will offer the fastest growing ethnic group in the U.S. a voice on the nation's highest court at a time when Latinos' political clout is growing.

"I think an addition of a Hispanic gives balance to the court," he said. "I think that this is a significant group of our country, and certainly she would be one who would understand those citizens."