Legally Speaking

With the recent passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a visit from First Amendment lawyer and Supreme Court expert Kevin Baine was right on time for Form V students, who welcomed him at a special remote-plus session yesterday. In a candid and thought-provoking exchange with the students, Baine discussed why Supreme Court nominations have become so polarizing. Baine also gave the students a window into what it might be like, acting as a legislator or judge, to make decisions about topics involving free speech, the Second Amendment right to bear arms, and abortion.

As one of the top First Amendment lawyers in the country, Baine has been the Washington Post’s First Amendment legal counsel for several decades. As a young lawyer starting out, he clerked for Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, and as a lawyer he has appeared in front of the U.S. Supreme Court to make arguments on multiple occasions. Many thanks to Associate Head of School Suzanne Woods, Baine’s former colleague at the D.C. law firm Williams & Connolly, for help coordinating this remote-plus session.