CRF participants meet U.S. Supreme Court justices

An article.

A group of high school students recently had the experience of a lifetime and traveled to Washington D.C. to participate in a series of question-and-answer sessions with U.S. Supreme Court justices. Constitutional Rights Foundation sponsored six students to make the journey to the nation’s capital, where they interacted with other young people and got a real-life lesson in civics from justices Kennedy, Breyer, Scalia and former Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. 

The lucky six included Dylan Hale, a senior from Brawley and Christman Bowers, a sophomore from Victorville, both former participants in CRF’s Summer Law Institute. Also making the trip were Lindsey Blais, a sophomore from Alhambra and Mock Trial participant, and two former CRF interns: Salvador Sanchez, a senior from Manual Arts High School and Sandy Ramirez, a senior from Fairfax High School in Los Angeles. Rounding out the group was Emily Kuriyama, a junior from Redondo Beach. 
 
Fifty-one students in all participated in the two-day event, along with 10 teachers and personnel from the Supreme Court. Sponsored by the Annenberg Public Policy Center, the students were able to converse with Justice Kennedy, discuss past Supreme Court decisions regarding the rights of citizens during times of war and partake in a question-and-answer session about judicial interpretation with justices Breyer and Scalia. 

After their visit and whirlwind adventure, the students sat down to reflect on their experiences.  

Here is a sample of their responses to questions about their trip: 

What issue raised during your meeting with the justices was most important to you and why? 

The issues concerning the Korematsu case because the interment camps dealt with people very close to me, my grandparents. -- Lindsey Blais 

The most important issue raised was the judicial interpretation matter because now we are able to know that the justices all are not on the same note and they interpret our law in a very contrary way. -- Christman Bowers 

The most important issue raised was that of the originalism versus evolutionism as it pertains to the interpretation of the Constitution. This debate is a very important and controversial issue for the courts and public. -- Dylan Hale 

To me, the issue of how citizens’ rights change during times of war was the most important to me because it is a relevant issue today because of the War on Terror. -- Emily Kuriyama 

I think it was the issue that concerned how the justices made their decisions. I think it was an eye-opening topic that many Americans don’t understand. From what I learned, I now understand that there will never be a clear way of interpreting the Constitution and therefore every justice will vote based on their interpretations and beliefs. --Sandy Ramirez 

The most important issue was what guidelines do the justices use while interpreting the Constitution because it gives us an insight on why they decide the decisions they do. -- Salvador Sanchez 

What issues regarding the Supreme Court most affects youth? 

I believe all issues affect youth just as much as it may affect adults because one day the youth will become adults. More specifically, the issue of immigration is what I believe affects youth the most. -- Bowers 

I believe individual rights in times of war is an issue regarding the Supreme Court that most affects the youth because it determines the kind of social and political climate they spend their formative years in. -- Kuriyama 

I believe the issue of education and affirmative action. -- Sanchez 

If you were Supreme Court justice for a day what kind of issues would you like to tackle? 

Their job is to interpret the law and justify if what is presented to them is law-abiding or not. -- Blais 

I would love to talk about any past controversial issues, and also any issues that caused a lot of hurt and pain for this country. -- Bowers 

I would like to tackle immigration issues and question the president’s actions. -- Sanchez 

After meeting with the justices, do you believe that it is the Supreme Court’s responsibility to remedy social problems? 

I believe the Supreme Court’s duty is to remedy those social problems that can be remedied through the law. -- Hale 

No, but I do think that it is their job to uphold the constitution and that sometimes that involves solving social problems. -- Kuriyama 

No, I don’t think so. The justice’s job is to make the best decision possible so society will be able to make the best out of it. Justices pass laws so that it becomes easier for society to get along, but the outcome is up to the people because not everyone is willing to change their views. -- Ramirez 

What question do you wish you had asked the justices that you did not get the chance to? 

I would have liked to ask a question about the rights of enemy combatants, or lack thereof and the reasoning behind that. -- Kuriyama 

What they enjoyed best about being a Supreme Court Justice? I would have wanted to know whether it was the politics or the fact that they were making decisions for the people and by the people. -- Ramirez 

Why do the courts apply the due process and equal protection clauses under the terms “persons” and not just citizens, and what does that mean for legal and illegal immigrants? -- Sanchez