Events 2009
Supreme Court Associate Justice Stephen Breyer speaks on the justice system and civil rights
September 11, 2009
Supreme Court Associate Justice Breyer spoke for an Embassy Paris Public Affairs audience of eighty young French leaders including elected officials of diverse backgrounds and law students from the universities “Sciences Po Paris” and “La Sorbonne.” After presenting the Supreme Court as a guarantor of American democracy, fundamental and civil rights, Justice Breyer openly answered sensitive questions about the International Court of Justice, Guantanamo, the interface between the Supreme Court and the population, and the role of the media. He presented the independence of judicial power as a sign of maturity in American democracy, explaining that the Justices through life appointment rise above partisan decision making. He encouraged the audience to be informed, to take a global perspective and to share their knowledge, highlighting the role the internet can play in increasing knowledge of law and allowing open comparison and sharing of best practices.