Hispanic and Latino Americans traditions. The term "Chicano" became popular amongst Mexican Americans in the 1960s during the Chicano nationalism and Chicano Movement, and is today seen as an ethnic and cultural identity by some. Political activist César Chávez and novelist José Antonio Villarreal are famous Chicanos. Nuyoricans are Americans of Puerto Rican descent from the New York City area. There are close to two million Nuyoricans in the United States. Famous Nuyoricans include US Supreme Court Judge Sonia Sotomayor and singer Jennifer Lopez. Hispanic or Latino origin is independent of race and is termed "ethnicity" by the United States Census Bureau. According to
Sonia Sotomayor Supreme Court nomination Judiciary Committee on July 28, 2009, which then voted out a recommendation to the full Senate. Chairman Democrat Patrick Leahy of Vermont said he expected Sotomayor to be in the "mold of Justice Souter, who understands the real-world impact of the Court's decisions, rather than the mold of conservative activists who second-guess Congress." Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania said, "Her confirmation would add needed diversity in two ways: the first Hispanic and the third woman to serve on the high court." Russ Feingold of Wisconsin said that "from all accounts, she is a highly qualified and very experienced judge." Orrin Hatch