Ada Perlman, Contributing Photographer

On Thursday afternoon, former Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer spoke to a crowd of Yale undergraduates, law students and faculty members. 

The Allan Bloom Forum, affiliated with the Conservative Party of the Yale Political Union, organized the event. Justice Breyer’s grandson, Eli Breyer Essiam ’28, a member of the Conservative Party, introduced him. 

Breyer was joined by Paul Gewirtz, a professor of constitutional law at Yale Law School. Gewirtz expressed his gratitude to Breyer for speaking about his experiences on the Supreme Court, especially in the current moment. 

“Today, there seems to be a special fortunateness,” Gerwitz said about Breyer’s visit to Yale. “In part because the Supreme Court and the Constitution are the subject of tremendous controversy. Some people say that we’re in a constitutional crisis.”

The two spoke about the role of a Supreme Court justice, the different methods of interpreting the Constitution and contemporary issues that the Court is facing, including questions of how political it should be, generally avoiding questions related to the current presidential administration.

Breyer encouraged the audience to stay active in public life, quoting the Greek politician Pericles.

“He said, ‘What can say about the man who does not participate in public life. We do not say he is a man who minds his own business. We say he is a man who has no business here,’” said Breyer. 

Throughout the talk, Breyer cracked many jokes and was met with much laughter from the audience. 

“He was surprisingly witty and funny. I was impressed,” said Miles Kirkpatrick ’27, who attended the event. “There were a lot of good insights on the nature of litigation in general, and a lot of good insights on the security of the court as well.”

Gewirtz asked Breyer about his thoughts on the current state of the “constitutional crisis,” considering that many Americans, including some of his law students, have lost trust and confidence in the Supreme Court. In response, Breyer emphasized the importance of speaking to those with whom one may disagree. 

“Go and find someone who you believe is intelligent and thinks the opposite. Listen to what they say and if you get them to talk long enough they will say something that you really agree with,” he said, emphasizing that agreement is something even if it is not always perfect. “If you get 30 percent of what you want, take it. Don’t hold up for 100 percent,” he said. 

Before taking a few questions from the audience, Breyer closed by saying that he was particularly inspired by seventh grade students he spoke to recently who gave him hope for the future. 

“They’re actually listening. It wasn’t the words I said, it was that they want to help in a period where people are pretty divided. Maybe I don’t know the right way, but it’s a way. Maybe it’s possible. The fact that they’re listening, it’s that which makes me optimistic about this country,” he said. 

Justice Stephen Breyer served on the United States Supreme Court from 1994 to 2022.