Sunday, October 13, 2024
Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett Visits Pepperdine Caruso Law School
It was a special treat to host Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett at two recent events at Pepperdine Caruso Law School:
United States Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett presided over the Armand Arabian Advocacy Tournament at Pepperdine University Rick J. Caruso School of Law on Friday, September 20, 2024.
Justice Barrett was joined on the final-round bench by Chief Judge Jeffrey S. Sutton and Judge Joan L. Larsen, both of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
When giving tips to the students about oral argument, Justice Barrett said, “Lawyers shouldn’t think of the questions from the bench as interruptions. Instead, it’s a golden opportunity to see what the judges care about.”
For the final round of this year’s tournaments, second-year law student Isaac Zwerling and third-year law student Kylie Thornburg advanced legal arguments about the interplay between the Contract Clause of the United States Constitution and a federal civil rights statute. At the end of the competition, the three judges named Zwerling as the tournament's champion.
"The student advocates demonstrated all of the attributes that make Pepperdine Caruso Law students exemplary: intelligence; hard work; professionalism; humility; a deep- seated love of the law; and, of course, outstanding oral advocacy,” said Paul Caron, the Duane and Kelly Roberts Dean of Pepperdine Caruso Law. “We are proud of their performances and grateful to our distinguished final-round bench for joining us during this flagship event.”
Pepperdine Caruso Law Annual Dinner Features United States Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett:
On Saturday, September 21, 2024, Pepperdine Caruso School of Law held its annual dinner that brought together esteemed faculty, alumni, students, and special guests, including United States Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett. Justice Barrett, in conversation with Caruso Law dean Paul Caron and professors Babette Boliek and Trey Childress, explored the evening’s theme, “Freedom in Truth,” and discussed the significance of lawyers serving as stewards of justice within the American legal system and the vital role institutions play when educating students on the importance of rule of law. ...
Introducing the evening’s moderators and special guest Justice Barrett, president Jim Gash (JD ’93) delivered his remarks on the profound connection between freedom and truth. Citing the words of George Orwell and Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Gash declared that truth is the foundation of a free society and that it is the responsibility of the legal community to uphold truth as the bedrock of justice.
“We give our students the resources, first among them our incredible faculty, to find truth for themselves and to discover the freedom that comes from walking in it,” said Gash. “At the Caruso School of Law, students are trained not only to find the truth in legal matters but also to recognize how truth leads to justice and freedom.”
Speaking with the moderators, Justice Barrett began the conversation by discussing her distinguished career, sharing her desire to pursue a profession that allowed her to help people and to problem solve. She also emphasized the vital role institutions like Pepperdine play, along with the responsibility of educators, in preparing law students to become thoughtful leaders and guardians of the legal system. Justice Barrett highlighted that it is the duty of law schools and professors to equip the next generation of lawyers to lead challenging discussions and work toward solutions rather than dismantling the entire legal institution.
“Lawyers and professors, as officers of the court, have an institutional duty to lead critical conversations,” she said. “When issues arise, it’s essential for lawyers to step forward and guide these discussions, setting a tone that fosters unity rather than division. A lawyer’s role should be to lead conversations around reform and problem-solving in a way that brings people together, inspiring a desire for solutions rather than fueling bitterness.” She continued, “Additionally, lawyers should champion constructive criticism and work to preserve institutions. I believe Pepperdine and similar institutions are cultivating students to embrace that responsibility.”
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