Brandeis School of Law Professor Justin Walker has a unique perspective on the recent changes to the makeup of the United States Supreme Court.

A former clerk for retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy, Walker also clerked for Judge Brett Kavanaugh, nominated last month by President Donald Trump to fill Kennedy’s seat.

At Judge Kavanaugh’s request, Walker was in attendance at the White House for the nomination announcement on July 9, 2018.

“It was a once-in-a-lifetime moment to be in the East Room, to see a justice nominated, and for that person to be someone I admire so much as a jurist and as a mentor and as a person,” Walker said.

“I loved seeing him up there with his wife and two little girls, whom he adores. It was also special to see his dad and trailblazing mom sitting in the front row, looking beyond proud. I felt excited for all of them, honored to be there and hopeful about the independence and fair-mindedness he’s going to bring to the Supreme Court.”

Walker has been featured in several local and national media outlets about Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination and his experiences working for both men.

In interviews, Walker states that he believes Judge Kavanaugh would be an open-minded justice.

“He’ll care about what the text of the law requires a judge to do,” Walker says in a . “He will not care about partisan political issues and outcomes.”

Walker has also said that Judge Kavanaugh would remain true to his conservative principles. 

“I would bet the farm that Judge Kavanaugh would not go wobbly” on key conservative issues, Walker said in an interview with . “He doesn’t have a wobbly bone in his body.”

On a personal level, Walker has praised Judge Kavanaugh’s work ethic and collegial nature.

“Whatever the opposite of a Georgetown cocktail party person is, that’s what Judge Kavanaugh is,” he told . “He’d much rather have a beer and watch a hockey game.”

See a list of Walker’s media appearances:

Print/digital:

• , July 17, 2018
• , July 14, 2018
• , July 11, 2018
• , July 11, 2018
• , July 11, 2018
• , July 10, 2018
• , July 10, 2018
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• , July 10, 2018
• , July 10, 2018
• , July 10, 2018
• , July 9, 2018 
• , July 9, 2018
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• , July 9, 2018
• , July 3, 2018
• , June 29, 2018
• , June 28, 2018

TV and Radio:

• Point of View Radio Talk Show, July 16, 2018
• , July 15, 2018
• Newstalk KVGO, July 13, 2018
• WAVE 3, July 13, 2018
• , July 12, 2018
• KXFM, July 12, 2018
• , July 12, 2018
• WVLK-AM, July 12, 2018
• 790 KABC, July 11, 2018
• , July 11, 2018
• , July 11, 2018
• , July 11, 2018
• , July 11, 2018
• Urban Family Talk, July 11, 2018
• Bloomberg Radio, July 10, 2018
• Bloomberg TV, July 10, 2018
• , July 10, 2018
• , July 10, 2018
• The Mitch Albom Show, July 10, 2018
• , July 10, 2018
• , July 10, 2018
• Sirius Xm Patriot, July 10, 2018
• , July 10, 2018
• , July 9, 2018
• , July 9, 2018
• , July 9, 2018
• , July 9, 2018
• , July 9, 2018
• Sirius XM Patriot, July 9, 2018
• , July 7, 2018
• , July 7, 2018
• , July 6, 2018
• , July 6, 2018
• , July 6, 2018
• , July 5, 2018
• , July 5, 2018
• WLKY Louisville, July 2, 2018
• , July 1, 2018
• , July 1, 2018
• , June 30, 2018
• Fox 5 New York, June 28, 2018

Opinion:

• , July 10, 2018
• , July 6, 2018
• , July 3, 2018

The course, led by Professor , is built on the concept of the Brandeis Brief, a style of brief that incorporates social science research into legal arguments. 

In the course — which was limited to three students during this initial offering — students worked with local attorneys and Brandeis Law alumni Dan Canon (’07) and Joe Dunman (’12) to write an amicus brief submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court.

“The students were dedicated and willing to learn,” Marcosson says. “They put in a tremendous amount of work, and I’m very proud of them.

“It was exactly what I hoped for — and more.”

The brief was written on behalf of the National Association for Public Defense and the Kentucky Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and petitions the U.S. Supreme Court to review a decision by the Kentucky Supreme Court. The brief argues that the Kentucky Supreme Court limited the ability of defense counsel to make its case in its opening statement, Marcosson says. 

The students researched the value of opening statements and the impact they have on juries while experiencing first-hand the rigors of writing a brief for the Supreme Court. 

“How often does a law student get an opportunity to submit a brief to the United States Supreme Court? Not only was this experience exciting, it compelled me to do my absolute best work,” says 3L Abby Braune, one of the students in the class. “So much of law school is theory; it was a nice change to take on a challenge that has a real-world impact.”

Marcosson credits Dean with advocating for this new course. 

“Without her, it never would have happened,” he says.

The medal is the law school’s highest honor and is awarded to people who champion the ideals of individual liberty, concern for the disadvantaged and public service. The award is a tribute to Louis D. Brandeis, a former U.S. Supreme Court justice from Louisville and namesake of the law school.

Kagan’s appointment to the high court by President Barack Obama was confirmed by the Senate in 2010 to replace Justice John Paul Stevens. She is the youngest sitting justice and her resume includes legal counsel and advisor to President Bill Clinton, Harvard Law School’s first female dean and the nation’s first female solicitor general. is the court’s 112th justice and fourth female justice.

To make her Louisville visit even more special, she traces her Supreme Court seat to Justice Brandeis: When Brandeis resigned, he was replaced by Justice William Douglas. When Douglas resigned, he was replaced by Justice John Paul Stevens. And when Stevens resigned, his seat was filled by Kagan.

“It’s an honor to confer this award on Justice Kagan,” said Brandeis School of Law Dean Susan Duncan. “In addition to tracing her seat on the Supreme Court to Justice Brandeis, her work in the areas of individual freedoms, equal opportunity and human rights reflects his life’s values. She’s also a great role model for our students because of her well-deserved reputation as a brilliant legal scholar and writer.”

Kagan will receive the medal Sept. 15 at a that starts at 6 p.m. in the ballroom of the Seelbach Hilton Hotel, 500 S. Fourth St. The cost is $100 per person. Registration is available until Sept. 12 and .

Kagan is the sixth Supreme Court justice to receive the Brandeis Medal since its inception in 1982. Others have included Justice Harry Blackmun (1983), Justice Sandra Day O’Connor (1992), Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (2003), Justice Stephen Breyer (2004), and Justice John Paul Stevens (2013). 

The Brandeis Medal was established to recognize individuals whose lives reflect Justice Brandeis’ commitment to the ideals of individual liberty, concern for the disadvantaged, and public service. The medal is cast in the likeness of Justice Brandeis as a reminder of his contributions and dedication to the law.