An algebraic soft-decision decoder for Hermitian codes is presented. We applyKoetter and Vardy's soft-decision decoding framework, now well established forReed-Solomon codes, to Hermitian codes. First we provide an algebraicfoundation for soft-decision decoding. Then we present an interpolationalgorithm finding the Q-polynomial that plays a key role in the decoding. Withsome simulation results, we compare performances of the algebraic soft-decisiondecoders for Hermitian codes and Reed-Solomon codes, favorable to the former.