By Poppy Seidler, 13
KidScoop Media Correspondent
On Wednesday, Nov. 5, I had the amazing opportunity to interview former Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. Meeting someone who spent thirty years making important decisions for our country was both exciting and inspiring. Talking with him taught me a lot about leadership, responsibility, and what it means to be an active citizen.
Justice Kennedy served on the United States Supreme Court from 1988 to 2018. He was appointed by President Ronald Reagan and became known for being fair, thoughtful, and independent. Many of his decisions focused on people’s rights, freedom, and equality. Even though he is retired now, it’s clear that he still cares deeply about the future of our country and the importance of teaching young people about government and justice.
During our conversation, Justice Kennedy shared that judges often face tough decisions where their heads and hearts might disagree. “This happens to judges all the time,” he said. He also spoke about how he has never regretted certain decisions, showing how careful thought and reflection guided him throughout his career.
I asked Justice Kennedy, “Did you ever dream of one day becoming a Supreme Court Justice? And how proud do you think your parents would have been if they had lived to see you being appointed by President Reagan?” He explained that being appointed to the Supreme Court was like being struck by lightning. “Being on the Supreme Court never even entered my mind,” he said.
When I asked who his biggest influences or mentors in law were, he said his father was one of them. “He was a wonderful man with absolute honesty and absolute integrity,” Justice Kennedy said. He also mentioned that there were 2 or 3 superior court judges who were marvelous mentors.
With Thanksgiving right around the corner, we asked about his favorite Thanksgiving dish. He said persimmon pudding, his moms recipe. Which his wife, Mary, makes very well according to him. The justice also mentioned that Nancy Reagan served it at the White House.
At the end of the interview, Justice Kennedy encouraged me and other students to keep doing what we were doing.
Meeting Justice Kennedy was an experience I will never forget. It made me think more deeply about justice, leadership, and the kind of person I want to be. I left the Ronald Reagan Library feeling inspired to learn more about law and to use my voice to make a positive impact in the world.