By: Rebecca Capozzi | Co-Editor-in-Chief
Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan’s visit to Salve Regina University on Monday, September 20th was a raging success. With an estimated 1,000 audience members, the tent full of undergraduate students, faculty, and other members of the New England community was roaring with laughter and applause several times during the chat. Listening to Justice Kagan talk about not only her job as a Supreme Court Justice, but also her time as an undergraduate student, law-school student, and a clerk, was truly engaging and inspiring. She was interviewed by Dr. James Ludes, Salve Regina’s Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Executive Director of the Pell Center for International Relations and Public Policy.
The New York native studied history at Princeton University, went on to get her Master’s degree in Philosophy from Worchester College in Oxford, and then attended Harvard Law School. After graduating from law school, she clerked for Justice Abner Mikva with the United States Court of Appeals and Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. When asked who her mentors throughout her career have been, she discussed how inspirational her mother has been in her life, and was then quick to name Justices Mikva and Marshall. She said that they not only inspired her career-wise, but also showed her how to be a great human being. Justice Mikva’s dedication and passion for racial equality also really inspired her.
Salve Regina’s President, Dr. Kelli Armstrong, introduces Justice Kagan.
Justice Kagan’s admiration of her fellow justices and co-workers does not stop outside the doors of the courtroom. She considers each and every one of them close friends to her, which may surprise some since many of their political ideologies do not align. When Dr. Ludes asked Justice Kagan how her interpersonal relationships were with those justices who do not hold the same political beliefs as her, she quoted former Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia:
“If you take it personally, you’re in the wrong job.”
Justice Kagan shared that once a month, the justices get together for lunch, and their one rule is that they are not allowed to discuss work. They talk about their spouses, children, grandchildren, and have an occasional sports debate. At the end of the day, they are friends. “People who disagree with each other can be friends,” she said. “This should not be a controversial statement.”
Being that Salve Regina is a university established by the Sisters of Mercy, Justice Kagan was able to relate her work to the mercy mission. She chose to discuss the importance of leading with empathy and how to do that appropriately as a justice. “The best lawyers are the best problem solvers,” she said. “You can’t solve a problem without seeing the world through another person’s eyes.” When it is not appropriate, however, is using empathy to simply feel bad for someone. Someone cannot “feel nice” one day and decide that someone’s action is okay, if that would not have been the case any other day. There has to be a balance between understanding why something was done versus feeling bad for someone. This is crucial when it comes to making such significant decisions.
Students, faculty, and staff arrive for the fireside chat.
Salve Regina was the first undergraduate university that Justice Kagan has visited in quite a while, as she normally visits law schools. She was absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to talk to such a large group of undergraduate students, faculty, and professors. “I’m never more optimistic than when I am talking to young people,” she said when asked about the health of American democracy. She explained that the health of American democracy is now becoming the responsibility of young people, and that she is very confident that they are going to be the ones to restore it.
Justice Kagan’s visit to Salve Regina is one of the many events celebrating the university’s 75th anniversary. Events are spread out throughout the entirety of the semester.
Photos by Rebecca Capozzi
