U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor returned to The University of Tulsa’s College of Law Wednesday, Sept. 16, for a Professional Women’s Leadership Hour.
Justice Sotomayor participated in Wednesday’s event in honor of Judge Stephanie K. Seymour, whose distinguished judicial career and commitment to mentoring future generations of lawyers are celebrated through the Judge Stephanie K. Seymour Lecture Series. Established by Seymour’s former law clerks, the series recognizes a legacy of leadership, service and opportunity within the legal profession.
Seymour served on the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for 46 years and was both the court’s first female judge and first female chief judge. Her influence as a jurist and mentor was a fitting backdrop for a conversation centered on leadership, resilience and creating opportunities for others.
The event brought together female students, faculty, alumni, members of the Federal Bar Association and community guests for a fireside chat between Justice Sotomayor and Janet Levit, UTulsa’s Frederic Dorwart Endowed Professor in Law and a former law clerk to the justice.
Throughout the discussion, Justice Sotomayor reflected on the people and experiences that shaped her career, including her mother, mentors and colleagues who supported her along the way. “My mother was my first and best teacher,” Justice Sotomayor said. “Anything good that I do is her.”
She spoke candidly about navigating criticism, finding her footing as a young attorney and the importance of extending grace to others and oneself. “We need for people who are mentors to be kind,” Justice Sotomayor said. “It takes courage to forgive yourself.”
Mentorship emerged as a central theme of the conversation. Justice Sotomayor recalled having few female mentors early in her career and encouraged attendees to support one another as they advance through the profession.
“You are at a very different place in society,” she said. “Take advantage of that. We have to stand up for each other.”
When asked about balancing authenticity and authority as a woman in leadership, Justice Sotomayor encouraged attendees not to suppress their personalities in pursuit of professional success. “Become comfortable with who you are,” she said. “Be soft, but know when to put a limit at being pushed around.”
The discussion also touched on her work as a justice, including the role of oral arguments, the purpose of dissenting opinions and the responsibility judges have to protect individual rights. Justice Sotomayor emphasized the importance of diverse perspectives and experiences within the legal profession and encouraged students to focus on meaningful work rather than a single long-term destination.
“We were grateful to welcome Justice Sotomayor back to UTulsa and to have the opportunity to engage in such a thoughtful conversation,” Levit said. “Justice Sotomayor’s career has inspired generations of lawyers, but what resonated most was her candor and warmth. She spoke openly about mentorship, self-doubt, resilience and service, offering lessons that extend well beyond the legal profession.”
For Jaela Sanderson, UTulsa law student and president of the Women’s Law Caucus, hearing those reflections firsthand was particularly meaningful.
“In law school, we spend countless hours studying Justice Sotomayor’s opinions and dissents,” Sanderson said. “Sitting a few feet from her, I was struck by her openness about her relationship with her mother and her struggles finding women mentors as a young attorney. Even in the face of those challenges, she found the light in every hurdle.”
Sanderson said the event reinforced the importance of building upon the opportunities created by those who came before.
“Justice Sotomayor has been a beacon and a role model for so many women entering the legal field,” she said. “As I complete my final year of law school, I aspire to carry that historic legacy forward, building on the opportunities that others fought to create while contributing to the groundwork for those who come after me.”
Before concluding the event, Justice Sotomayor offered a final message directly to the students in attendance.
“Obviously, you are here for a reason. You’ve impressed someone,” she said. “You are me, tomorrow. I keep telling young people to become like me. I want all of you to take our places.”