Anthony Kennedy

In today's politically charged debate over the role of the courts in American society, Justice Anthony Kennedy stands as a model of judicial temperance and objectivity. At 38, Kennedy was the youngest federal appeals judge in the country. Appointed to the Supreme Court by President Reagan in 1988, Kennedy won the unanimous approval of the United States Senate. As a Justice of the Supreme Court, he has resolutely evaluated every case on its merits, without attempting to promote an overriding political viewpoint or philosophy. Even those who disagree with his findings are compelled to admire his carefully drafted opinions. Although he has generally voted with his conservative colleagues on crime issues, he has at times sided with the Court's more liberal members on issues of free speech and privacy. His warm, unpretentious demeanor has enabled him to negotiate compromises between his fellow justices and rise above the political passions of the moment. His longtime commitment to international legal education has insured that his influence will extend far beyond his tenure on the nation's highest court. In this podcast, recorded at the 2006 International Achievement Summit in Los Angeles, California, Justice Kennedy speaks to the Academy's student delegates about the Constitution and the meaning of freedom. He calls for improved understanding between the United States and other nations and urges the students to rise above stereotypical perceptions of others.