FIRST ON FOX: Supreme Court justices confront what it will take to keep America's founding freedoms alive
Though the three conservative justices were united in their call for civic education, they each approached the topic differently in a series of interviews filmed by the Federalist Society and obtained by Fox News Digital.
Key points
- FIRST ON FOX: As America celebrates 250 years of independence this year, three conservative Supreme Court justices are warning that preserving the nation's founding freedoms for future generations depends on Americans understanding their history, embracing civic education and actively participating in their system of government.
- GORSUCH HIGHLIGHTS STAGGERING DECLINE IN CIVIC LITERACY THAT PROMPTED HIM TO AUTHOR NEW BOOK "I think it's very easy to take the rights granted in our Constitution and the ideals expressed in the Declaration for granted," he said.
- While not interviewed by the Federalist Society, Justice Sonia Sotomayor shared her thoughts on America's 250th anniversary during an event at Mount Vernon's Washington Library, taking a slightly darker tone than her conservative colleagues.
THE UNWINNABLE WAR AMERICA'S FOUNDING FATHERS FOUGHT AND WON CHANGED HUMAN HISTORY FOREVER "Our country is a blessing from God, and that we owe great thanks for it, and we have great responsibility for it," he went on.
Additional details
- During her talk, which centered primarily on civic engagement, Sotomayor argued that the United States is in a rough place at the moment and that it would take "some hard work" for it to get back on an "even keel." "There are some norms we may have lost forever," she said.
- But I think we’re going to have a hard patch figuring out what that means." Barrett, meanwhile, focused on the Declaration of Independence and how she believes it should inspire civic participation today.
- The videos come ahead of the Federalist Society's 2026 National Lawyers Convention this week, which spotlights "250 Years of American Exceptionalism." Gorsuch, for instance, struck a distinctly religious tone.
- "And I think all of us should be constantly striving to ensure civics education, not only for our youth, but for all of us, and that we constantly are learning and participating in our system of government," he continued.
- SPEAKER JOHNSON WARNS STUDENTS ARE 'INDOCTRINATED' TO SEE US THROUGH 'WRONG LENSES' AS NATION CELEBRATES 250TH The Federalist Society filmed its interviews ahead of its National Lawyers Convention, which will bring together minds from across the conservative legal movement to discuss matters deemed pressing.
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