The UC Davis magazine includes, “A Supreme Success,” an extended profile of Davis law school alumna Justice Kelli Evans.
In the profile is a reminder that Supreme Court justices are in general, well, generalists:
- “One of the things I love about being here — in many ways, similar to what I’ve loved about my career in the law — is there’s so much diversity,” Evans said in an interview with UC Davis Magazine in July. “There are so many opportunities for learning about new issues and new areas of the law.”
Justice Evans expressed the importance of being a role model as a Black woman and the court’s first openly lesbian justice:
- “All the attorneys that I saw [as a child] looked nothing like me; they were all white men,” she added. “That is not what California looks like. Now, children have a glimpse, maybe, of what a lawyer can be, someone who looks a lot like them.”
- “Particularly now, when there are these culture wars, ‘othering’ people and in some instances putting people in physical peril, I think it’s particularly important for those of us who can be open and authentic that we do so,” she said. “Hopefully that provides hope to others, particularly young people.”
She also repeated what other justices have said about the court’s collegiality:
- “Our court is a very collaborative court. We have robust disagreements, discussions and debates, but it’s never personalized; it’s always professional,” she said. “And there’s no ego involved. I think all seven of us are doing our best to get to the best decision and outcome.”
Related:
“Out in the Bay: Lesbian CA Supreme Court Justice Evans credits grandmother for her success”