A Conversation with Supreme Court of California Justice Mariano-Florentino Cu茅llar
2L Daniel Morales reflects on Justice Cu茅llar’s inspiring visit.
I am proud to be a member of La Raza, I serve on its executive board, and my position is External Vice President. Shortly after beginning this spring semester, somewhat serendipitously, I met Justice Cu茅llar and we began a dialogue.
I asked my fellow board members to approve an event hosting Justice Cu茅llar. After getting La Raza鈥檚 endorsement, I officially invited Justice Cu茅llar and he graciously accepted. Thanks to our co-sponsors the Associated Students of UC Law SF (鈥淎SUCH鈥), and our Acting Chancellor and Dean David L. Faigman, the event included lunch for attendees. And, thanks to Adjunct Professor Catalina Lozano for introducing Justice Cu茅llar at the event.
On March 15, 2016, Justice Cu茅llar visited UC Law SF to speak with members and friends of La Raza. In planning the visit, I asked Justice Cu茅llar if he would be willing to take questions from students, and he happily agreed. Students submitted their questions before the event, and during the event Justice Cu茅llar answered as many as time permitted. After the event, students were able to meet Justice Cu茅llar, speak with him individually, and many took pictures with our guest of honor. Justice Cu茅llar spoke on a range of topics, including his experience thus far on the Supreme Court of California and stories about his family. Justice Cu茅llar is an inspiration, and his background as an immigrant/Mexican-American provides a particularly rare human-connection with our community of law students.
The message that I heard permeating throughout all of Justice Cu茅llar鈥檚 answers was the importance of humility and confidence. One of the things I appreciated most about Justice Cu茅llar was how he made himself accessible to our community of law students. These qualities which Justice Cu茅llar embodies are the same qualities that he champions of the Law. For instance, accessibility to Justice is one of Justice Cu茅llar鈥檚 platforms as the Chair of the Language Access Implementation Task Force advising the Judicial Council.
Although the visit lasted only an hour, there was a consensus that the wisdom and inspiration students took away from the event will be with them for much longer.