Meeting in New Haven, #Connecticut, Supreme Court Justices, Samuel A. Alito Jr., Justice Sonia Sotomayor and #Justice Clarence Thomas returned to the #Yale School of #Law for a reunion weekend.
The three Justices participated in a rare three-way discussion - ranging on topics including - #SupremeCourt traditions, the Court’s well publicized resistance to new technology, salsa dancing and many more insightful looks into the lives of the three Justices.
Justice Clarence Thomas, who has not asked a question from the Supreme #Court bench since 2006, unusually expansive here. He goes on to give several insights as to why this may be the case, although we have seen him speak in more recent cases.
Thomas - now in his late 60s - acknowledged being the archetypal “cynical” law student, tending to view issue with a rather negative bent. Thomas blamed his youthful immaturity and the unsettled political climate of the early 1970s.
For many years, Justice Thomas had absolutely no plans on returning to his alma mater. In his 2007 memoir, “My Grandfather’s Son,” Thomas wrote about his complex inner feelings in which at times he felt as if his law degree had been tainted by the move toward affirmative action. He wrote, “I learned the hard way - that a law degree from Yale meant one thing for white graduates and another for blacks, no matter how much anyone denied it.”
Adding, “I peeled a 15-cent price sticker off a package of cigars and stuck it on the frame of my law degree to remind myself of the mistake I’d made by going to #Yale.” At this event - however - things were much warmer. Far from the controversial nomination and conformation process Thomas endured in 1991, in which he was accused of numerous things - in a highly charged partisan environment. “I wish I came here at a time when I could have been more positive,” he added. “There is so much here that I just walked right by.”
Justice Sonia Sotomayor has previously written and discussed the help she received through affirmative action, which she credited with her admittance to the prestigious program. Sotomayor said that she found her time at #Yale to be both completely "inspiring" yet "intimidating", something I think we can all understand.
Frequently drawing large #crowds at her public appearances doesn't shake her from her mission to enjoy all aspects of life, while also constantly pursuing the rigorous discipline required in the educational and contemplative process. Now in her early 60s, she admits to being a "poor dancer" but that does not dissuade her from continuing her enjoyment of salsa. More information about Justice #Sotomayor can be found her popular memoir titled, “My Beloved #World.”
In contrast with the other Justices tepid and cautionary approach, Justice Alito has been a loyal member of the law school alumni going all the way back to 2005. While, in preparation for his confirmation hearings, Alito felt it necessary to set aside some time from preparations to write an apology note to the dean of the law school for his absence during his 30th reunion.
#Six other justices also all attended Harvard Law School, though former popular Justice, Ruth Bader #Ginsburg transferred to and graduated from #Columbia Law School. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. has two #Harvard degrees and was once asked whether it is healthy for the Supreme Court to consist of only justices with degrees from elite institutions.
“First of all, I disagree with your premise,” he responded. “Not all of the justices went to elite institutions. Some went to Yale."
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