The University of Louisville presented the Brandeis Medal to on Feb. 5, during a reception at Louisville’s Marriott Hotel Downtown.

The Brandeis Medal, awarded annually since 1983, honors a recipient chosen for their devotion to economic, social or political justice and for advancing the cause of public service in the legal profession. Sotomayor, an alum of Princeton University and Yale Law School, is the seventh Supreme Court justice honored with the medal, following Harry Blackmun, Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagan, Sandra Day O’Connor and John Paul Stevens.

“We selected Justice Sotomayor to receive the Brandeis Medal because she brings tremendous dignity, respect and compassion to the bench. She is a fierce defender of liberty,” said Dean of Louis D. Brandeis School of Law Melanie B. Jacobs. “Every student who is in this room who was at the law school today and got to interact with Justice Sotomayor is nodding and thinking of the way in which she touched them.”

The “people’s justice”

Appointed by Barack Obama in August 2009, Sotomayor became the first Hispanic and third woman to serve on the high court. Aptly, Sotomayor was introduced at the Brandeis event by , the first Hispanic law professor at UofL, and like Sotomayor, a native New Yorker from the Bronx. Trucios-Haynes said Sotomayor has served as a personal mentor and role model for the marginalized, underserved and disadvantaged in her 15 years on the bench, writing impassioned rulings and dissents on issues of race, gender and ethnic identity.

Sometimes dubbed “the people’s justice,” Sotomayor is known for decisions such as legalizing same-sex marriage and upholding the Affordable Care Act, as well as her concern for the rights of criminal defendants and criminal justice reform.

In providing greetings from the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Gov. Andy Beshear said the Supreme Court holds “a sacred duty to rule without bias or favor to any person or party.” The justices of the Supreme Court are “the very foundation of a functional system of government, one that’s designed to serve the people and not just the powerful.”

welcomed Sotomayor who then participated in a question-and-answer session with Jacobs.

The justice spoke candidly about her upbringing in an impoverished, high-crime housing project in New York City. She also discussed the positive influence of her grandmother and how life experiences had informed her philosophies on law and life.

“I felt loved, I never felt poor,” she said. “It was a hard life, but it was a life filled with joy. Poor people are not bad people, they’re just poor, but many people don’t understand the difference. They think poverty is your own fault.”

The law is not black and white��

Sotomayor described the delicate balance of interpreting the law, noting how she has encountered defendants who made bad choices, yet were willing to change their behavior. Other times, she met defendants unwilling to see their wrongs.

“Our judgment as a society must understand this difference,” she said. “That’s what my childhood taught me. The law is not black and white, it’s gray, and in that gray area is where judges and lawyers work.”

When asked how she has been successful in considering both sides of an issue, the justice responded, “We have to have balance in facing our problems, and the only way to have that balance is to be open to both sides of the conversation.

“Justice (Clarence) Thomas and I, for example, are well-known for frequently being on the opposite side of issues, but no one is more loyal to the people he works with and loves.

“The fundamental difference between us is that he believes every person is capable of lifting themselves up by the bootstraps, while I understand from my life experiences that some people need help getting their boots up so they can reach their bootstraps,” Sotomayor said. “If you start from the proposition that most people have good in them, it’s easier to find common ground.”

On another topic, Jacobs asked Sotomayor what is needed to restore eroded trust in the judiciary.

“The court would garner better support if it acted more slowly in undoing precedent,” said Sotomayor. “If we as a court go too far ahead of people, our legitimacy is going to be questioned, and I think the immunity case is one of those situations. I don’t think Americans have accepted that anyone should be above the law in America — even the president.”��

Inspiring the next generation

While in Louisville, Sotomayor met with law students, a rare opportunity for the aspiring attorneys. She also visited students in the Central High School Law and Government Magnet Program, a UofL Signature Partnership program in which high schoolers are taught by Brandeis School of Law students to encourage minority participation in the legal profession.

Third-year law student Andi Dahmer explained how special it was to hear Sotomayor’s lived experiences come to life, and asked the justice this question: In a period of such uncertainty both domestically and abroad, what is one thing that brings you hope for the future with regard to the rule of law?

“In response, without missing a beat, she looked at us and said ‘you,’ meaning the youth, the students in the room,” Dahmer said. “I thought it was a very profound answer, and I was so honored that she said students of our generation give her such hope.” ��

Dahmer also said she was awestruck by the friendly presence of Justice Sotomayor.��

Carcyle Barrett, also a third-year law student, felt a deep connection with Sotomayor’s journey in terms of challenges and aspirations. Both Barrett and Sotomayor hail from working class families in New York with migrant or immigrant parents.

“She had to navigate spaces where her potential was doubted by people, but in her persistence, she didn’t let anyone stop her,” said Barrett. “It resonates for me that her presence and diverse representation on the Supreme Court is needed to help shape the law.”

Further, Barrett said she was encouraged by the justice’s comments that success isn’t just about talent.

“She told us it’s about resilience, authenticity and staying true to your values,” Barrett said. “I think Justice Sotomayor’s ability to remain grounded and connected to her roots while holding on to her position is a reminder that you can succeed without compromising who you are.”

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The award recognizes the efforts of one SBA organization annually that strives to create a better environment for law students and a more positive image of the legal profession.��

Taylor Reese and Elma Jasarevic, both May 2024 law school graduates, served as ABA representative and president of the student bar association, respectively, and were instrumental in securing the award for the law school.

The two cited their involvement in the SBA as a way to give back to fellow students.

“One reason I ran to be ABA rep and wanted to join the SBA is because you can make a change there, especially for our peers,” Jasarevic said. “I wanted to see everyone succeed.”

Jasarevic nominated the student bar association for the ABA award and believes a combination of factors helped them capture the honor, including a marked increase in student engagement over the past year, as well as better connecting the student body with the administration and making an impact within the legal and nonlegal community.

Reese and Jasarevic planned and held a series of three successful town halls to encourage open dialogue and offer a voice to underrepresented groups of law students who may not have felt heard.

“When Elma and I came into school, there was a little bit of a disconnect between students and administration,” Reese��said. “This was the first year ever that we had a channel for people to leave us complaints, comments or suggestions. We set up a Microsoft form that any student could access and tell us anything.”

After receiving feedback, Reese met with the law school leadership to communicate comments and concerns and figure out solutions. The town halls also prompted greater participation in social events.

“I think the most that had previously attended any event was about 25-30 people but this year we had 125,” Reese said. “The students knew that all of us at SBA were very much an open ear, and we would go above and beyond to find someone who could fix problems. I think that’s a big part of why we had such a great year.”

Reese and Jasarevic are both pursuing law careers focused on public service, something they attribute to their time at UofL’s law school.

Reese will be working as a military lawyer, commissioning as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army JAG Corps in January 2025.

“I always had an interest in special victims counsel, and the Army has that position,” she said. “I will be representing the survivors of domestic violence or sex crimes.”

Jasarevic’s journey will be closer to home. She will be sworn in this fall as the Jefferson County’s Assistant Commonwealth Attorney.

“Since I was in middle school, I’ve�� had a passion to serve the public,” she said. “That’s one of the things that really attracted me to Brandeis was that great mission. I just love seeing how the school is thriving and how we’re furthering the public interest.”

Burnett understood the depth of the connection between Justice Brandeis and Louisville. He admired Brandeis’ respect for small institutions, his appreciation for federalism, his interdisciplinary insights and his vision of universities as hubs of innovation. He especially respected Brandeis’ commitment to pro bono work, saying how Justice Brandeis “really thought that was part of the obligation of lawyers and part of the noble calling of the law as a career.”

Burnett gathered broad support throughout the university, the local bench and bar and even the Brandeis family. On Feb. 24, 1997, the UofL Board of Trustees officially changed the name of the school to the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law.

“The law school has a unique advantage in the national landscape of legal education. Prospective students know that Brandeis is a school that carries on both the name and the spirit of a towering figure. That legacy has its home at the University of Louisville,” said Burnett.

Over the past 25 years, the school has endeavored to embrace its Brandeis name and legacy.�� Beyond his generous donations, Justice Brandeis gifted the philosophy of public service, which has been an integral part of what makes the Brandeis law community so dynamic and engaged, and such a special place to develop the next generation of legal minds.

Students continue the Brandeis tradition of public service through thousands of volunteer hours annually. The Louis D. Brandeis School of Law was among the first five U.S. law schools to require that its graduates complete at least 30 hours of public service. Public service projects during orientation helps new law students appreciate the school’s commitment to service.�� It sets the standard early, and most Brandeis Law students’ service exceeds the prescribed hours.

Central High School partnership

Another way the school honors Justice Brandeis is through the Law and Government Magnet Program at Central High School, which enables law students to provide a variety of enrichment activities, from teaching Central students a street law curriculum to attending law school events. Under the leadership of professors Cedric Powell, Laura Rothstein and Enid Trucio-Haynes, coordinating with Central High Magnet director Joe Gutmann, the partnership is in its 21st year.����������

Alumna Mashayla Hays, ’15, ’18, chose Central High School for this program. Today she is legal counsel for The Lawyering Project, focused on Reproductive Justice. From Central High to UofL and the Brandeis School of Law, Mashayla thrived because of the village behind her. Now she’s inspiring future lawyers herself.

“Community service has always been a huge part of my life. It started at Central with opportunities to serve the Louisville community in various ways, and it came full circle when I was able to go and teach at Central – giving back to those that poured into me,” Hays said.

The school also is a leader in the study of environmental justice, a discipline focused on the fair treatment of all peoples, regardless of race, ethnicity or income in environmental laws, policies and conditions. Brandeis School of Law’s commitment to environmental justice is an essential part of the school’s commitment to social justice, public service and high-impact, applied research. The program successfully incorporates experiential and service learning, as well as embracing a broader community, as professors Craig “Tony” Arnold and Shavonnie Carthens work with both law students and law fellows.

These are just a few of many examples of students and faculty honoring Justice Brandeis’ legacy, from engaging in legal research to working in our Ackerson Law Clinic.

Looking to the future, Melanie B. Jacobs, dean of the ��Brandeis School of Law, looks forward to expanding the school’s public service commitment to Louisville and throughout Kentucky with more clinical opportunities, service learning and applied legal research.��

“The best way to honor Justice Brandeis’ legacy is to ensure that Brandeis School of Law-educated attorneys are compassionate, dedicated, collaborative and innovative lawyers who seek to improve the lives of their clients and fellow community members,” Jacobs said.

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