Among those who were on hand to deliver questions were Judges Lungstrumm of the U.S. District Court, and Deanell Tacha of the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. Kansas State University's student body president, Danny Unruh, was also on hand to pose questions. Justice Sotomayor spoke on an array of topics, including: affirmative action, legal interpretation and the importance of education.
On the topic of affirmative action, Sotomayor noted that the term had become a polarizing phrase that carries the potential to stir anger in many. ''It is a conscious choice by society to understand that the norm of selection that's set up was influenced by a system that excluded others,'' said Sotomayor.
On the topic of whether or not judges make the law or interpret it, Sotomayor said, ''What they're thinking of is 'What's my best interpretation of what the law means and how it applies to this situation.'' The justice also made bold statements about education in the country, saying that, ''We can't live in a society where the poorest children are the poorest educated.''
The event was closed off to the public. Only KSU, Washburn law, and high school students in the region were permitted attend.
Sotomayor's visit to the KSU campus follows a long tradition of Supreme Court justices visiting the school. Other Chief Justices to have visited the campus are John Roberts, Sandra Day O'Connor, Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Antonin Scalia and Byron White.
