Advisory Opinions Listening to a Justice | Interview: Justice Amy Coney Barrett
18 snips
Sep 9, 2025 
Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett, known for her writings on originalism and her time as a clerk for Justice Scalia, joins the conversation. She discusses her new book, emphasizing the role of context in legal interpretation and the influence of civic education. The lightning round uncovers her views on oral arguments and court terminology. Barrett also reflects on the challenges of the equity docket and the relation between judicial philosophies, including a deeper dive into originalism amidst the complexities of contemporary governance.
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Law School Curriculum Priorities
- Teach law students statutory and regulatory interpretation, including leg reg, because most practice revolves around statutes and regulations.
- Ensure courses present originalism seriously and expose students to competing perspectives.
Originalism Is Not A Magic Formula
- Originalism isn't a mechanical right-answer generator and admits reasonable disagreement over history and meaning.
- Barrett endorses originalism because the ratified text is what the law is, not because it guarantees restraint.
Ratified Principles Can Outpace Expectations
- Ratified constitutional text embodies principles whose applications may be unforeseeable to framers.
- Expected applications narrow meaning but do not determinatively fix all future cases.
