By Quinlan Taylor, Age 13
KidScoop Media Correspondent
Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy marked the release of his memoir, Life, Law and Liberty, with a public conversation and book event at the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California. I had the opportunity to meet with Justice Kennedy and ask him questions about his new book, his years on the Supreme Court, and his life after retiring from the bench. He had a very inviting presence and graciously responded with detailed answers. His wife, Mary, also proved to be engaging company, often elaborating on his responses.
I opened the interview with a question I had been especially eager to ask: What life lesson from his youth had stayed with him throughout his years on the bench? He responded with an encouraging quote reflecting his upbringing: “To know that even in times of adversity, hope lies ahead.”
I wondered what he had missed most about such a demanding job and about being a Supreme Court Justice. He replied nostalgically, “The fascination of the cases and the questions that are presented, and the discussions with my colleagues—we were very close.”
In his book, Justice Kennedy mentions his relationship with Justice Scalia, writing, “If friendships are slipping away, we must renew them soon, lest time does not permit us to celebrate them for long.” Despite their disagreements, Justices Scalia and Kennedy were close friends, which led me to my next question: “Judge Scalia had a larger-than-life personality. How did his death affect you?” I asked. Justice Kennedy recalled, “We always mourned our colleagues. We were friends in the collegial sense and the neighborly sense as well.”
One of the most striking traits revealed in Kennedy’s answers was his ability to separate personal relationships from political opinions—a skill that must have been challenging while serving on the Supreme Court. When asked what advice he would give to young people aspiring to a career in law, he responded thoughtfully: “It is fascinating because you have to know yourself.”
As a retired Supreme Court Justice, I was curious to know which Justice and President, no longer alive, were his favorites. He replied, “Both Justice Harlan and Hugo Black.” He explained that, despite sometimes disagreeing with their opinions, he greatly admired their honesty.
Given his love of reading, I asked what book he was currently reading. He said it was The End of Everything by Victor Davis Hanson, a book that explores how powerful civilizations are undone by pride and war.
For the concluding question, I asked what was on his bucket list and if there was a country he would still like to visit. He said, “I’d like to visit South Africa and then go to Uganda.” When asked if he had ever been on a safari, he noted, “We were invited on one with Nelson Mandela,” but had to miss it out of loyalty to the students he was teaching.
I thanked him profusely for taking the time to meet with us, then proceeded to the book event, where he participated in a photo opportunity and public conversation.
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