Justices Urge Civic Learning Ahead of 250th Anniversary
Kavanaugh, Gorsuch and Barrett Encourage Americans to Study History and Participate, While Sotomayor Warns of Lost Norms.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Law
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Supreme Court Justices Brett Kavanaugh, Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett urged citizens to learn American history and take part in government in interviews filmed by the Federalist Society. Separately, Justice Sonia Sotomayor warned that some democratic norms may have been lost forever at an event at Mount Vernon.
Why it matters
The remarks come as the nation approaches the 250th anniversary of American independence, prompting public reflection on the country's founding principles and civic responsibilities. The justices' comments offer insight into how members of the high court view the relationship between history, citizenship and the health of democratic institutions.
The interviews were filmed by the Federalist Society and obtained by Fox News Digital ahead of its 2026 National Lawyers Convention, themed "250 Years of American Exceptionalism." The source does not detail any specific policy measures tied to the justices' remarks.
The players
Brett Kavanaugh
Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court who joined the Court in 2018 and was among the justices urging citizens to study American history and participate in government.
Neil Gorsuch
Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court appointed by President Donald Trump in 2017 after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, who encouraged civic learning in the Federalist Society interviews.
Amy Coney Barrett
Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court who pointed to the Declaration of Independence's pledge of lives, fortunes and sacred honor in her remarks on American history.
Sonia Sotomayor
Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court who warned at a Mount Vernon event that some democratic norms may have been lost forever.
Federalist Society
A legal organization of conservative and libertarian lawyers, judges and scholars that filmed the justices' interviews ahead of its 2026 National Lawyers Convention.
The details
Kavanaugh, Gorsuch and Barrett spoke in interviews released ahead of the Federalist Society's convention, emphasizing study of American history and civic engagement. Barrett highlighted the Declaration of Independence's closing line, in which signatories pledged their lives, fortunes and sacred honor. Sotomayor, who was not interviewed by the Federalist Society, addressed America's 250th anniversary at Mount Vernon's Washington Library.
Timeline
2017: Gorsuch was appointed to the Supreme Court by President Donald Trump following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia.
2018: Kavanaugh joined the Supreme Court following a confirmation process.
2026: The Federalist Society held its National Lawyers Convention, whose interviews were released ahead of the event.
Political Context
The justices' calls for civic learning echo the Declaration's founders, who pledged their lives, fortunes and sacred honor to independence, with Barrett noting some signatories lost property to loyalists. Sotomayor's warning that some democratic norms may be lost forever counters the optimistic framing of the anniversary, raising questions about whether those founding commitments still guide public life.
The justices' remarks emphasize that civic participation, from learning history to engaging in government, is a practical responsibility for citizens. Readers who want to follow how these views shape legal debates can track Supreme Court coverage as the 250th anniversary approaches.
The takeaway
The justices' messages suggest that understanding the nation's founding history and taking part in civic life are linked to preserving democratic norms. Citizens can take that cue by reading primary founding documents and engaging with local government.
Further reading
For more on how the nation's highest court shapes constitutional debates, explore the Law section.
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