We the People A Conversation with Justice Amy Coney Barrett on ‘Listening to the Law’
Sep 19, 2025
Justice Amy Coney Barrett, a U.S. Supreme Court associate justice and author of *Listening to the Law*, shares insights from her legal journey and constitutional philosophy. She discusses growing up in New Orleans and the lessons from her family life. Barrett highlights her experiences with Justice Scalia and her commitment to originalism, emphasizing the importance of public meaning in constitutional interpretation. She also addresses the need for civility and collaboration in legal debates, advocating for a more humble approach to overcoming polarization.
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Rooted Family Inspiration
- Amy Coney Barrett describes visiting her great-grandmother's small New Orleans house and finding inspiration in how she stretched limited resources to include many people.
- The image reminds Barrett to stretch herself beyond perceived capacity in family and work.
Control Your Emotions
- Control your emotions or they will control you, Barrett recounts her father's counsel about self-discipline and rational restraint.
- She applies this rule to judicial work and everyday decision-making to stay dispassionate and deliberate.
Clerkships That Shaped Her
- Barrett recounts her two clerkships with Judge Silberman and Justice Scalia as formative, describing hands-on work from briefs to drafting opinions.
- She learned deep legal thinking, judging's neutrality, and collegiality in multi-member courts.
