Texas Tech law students Friday had the rare opportunity to soak up the wit and wisdom of a U.S. Supreme Court insider during a lunchtime lecture.
William K. Suter, clerk of the Supreme Court, delivered a roughly 45-minute speech at the law school’s Lanier Auditorium.
Waiting for the lecture to begin, law student Lisa Danley said she looked forward to hearing Suter’s ideas and opinions about the court and relished the opportunity to have such a well-respected guest.
“It’s not that this happens very often,” Danley said.
Suter, who was stationed at Fort Hood in 1958 with a young Elvis Presley, began his lecture with the levity that would pervade.
“Thank you. Thank you very much,” Suter said in his best imitation of The King.
Suter said one of the best things about watching oral arguments for the last 20 years has been seeing high-caliber attorneys present their cases.
He said young lawyers should emulate that professionalism.
“You’re going to be much happier in the profession of law if you consider your opponent your friend and not your enemy,” Suter said.
Suter is the 19th clerk of the U.S. Supreme Court and has held the position since 1991.
He is responsible for managing the court’s docket and calendar and overseeing the Supreme Court Bar.
He also attends all oral arguments before the court.
Suter is a retired major general and former judge advocate general of the Army.
He spent a significant portion of his time Friday detailing the interaction between the justices and dispelling commonly held misconceptions about the high court.
He said too much emphasis is placed on what is believed to be the justices’ political leanings.
Suter cited cases in which justices voted in a way that would seem contrary to their perceived political ideology.
He said they just vote their conscience in each case.
“You can have these labels and you can apply them to the justices, but they don’t stick,” Suter said.
That’s not to say they don’t disagree, but Suter said they can have different opinions on the bench and then all go to lunch together.
He said people think they’re like nine scorpions in a jar, but that just isn’t true.
“They’re the best of friends,” Suter said.
He extolled the dedication that retired Justice Sandra Day O’Conner showed when she stayed on the bench past when she was scheduled to retire to keep a court of nine until Justice Samuel Alito was sworn in.
Her love of country was something to admire, Suter said.
“I wish more young people would spend time studying people like Justice Sandra Day O’Conner, and her history, and less time listening to unintelligible rap music and worshipping Hollywood airheads,” Suter said.
Law student Cassidy Ross said she was grateful to have the opportunity to listen to Suter.
“We’re really privileged to have such a distinguished person at the law school,” Ross said. “This just gives you kind of a different perspective.”
Abigail Rosen agreed with Ross and said the lecture shortened the gap between Lubbock and the U.S. Supreme Court.
“I think all of us aspire to be at the Supreme Court one day, and it makes it more realistic and tangible,” Rosen said.
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