"Do justice." Last night I had the opportunity to hear Justice Elena Kagan interviewed at CU Law School, through their John Paul Stevens Lecture series. The questions ranged from lighthearted to poignant and allowed the Justice to share personal memories of her mentors, like Thurgood Marshall, the qualities she believes justices should possess, and her thoughts on our highest court.
I was impressed by her humor and the ease in which she answered questions, as well as her humility. In fact, her advice for law students and young attorneys was to throw out their plans and to ask themselves what is more fun and interesting and to do that! However, I was most struck by her repeated use of one phrase, "Do justice." I've often heard of upholding justice, or administering justice, even acting with justice, but to simply command to "do justice" well, it made me pause. Justice can feel like an abstract concept, a goal worth working towards, but hard to obtain.
I have found myself frustrated by the lack of justice in our legal system, and once had a client complain that the sign on the courthouse, Justice Center, needed to be changed because, "this isn't the center of justice." But Justice Kagan seemed to be indicating justice is something we can all be a part of, we just need to go and do it. So, I am encouraged, as we all can in whatever ways we work in and move through our communities, "do justice."
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