By Justice Sandra Day O'Connor

Speech at groundbreaking ceremony for New York University Law School's new building

September 28, 2001

Speech at groundbreaking ceremony for New York University Law School's new building
ITEM DETAILS
Type: Speech
Location: Groundbreaking ceremony for New York University Law School's new building

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Transcript

(Automatically generated)

John Sexton
When we scheduled this event, there was only one person our community wanted to deliver the principal address. Remember the faculty lunch at which she spoke to us that stimulated the idea for a conference that just the other day as we celebrated the success of the global law school initiative, was referred to as the seminal intellectual event of that program, now widely recognized as having transformed all of legal education, not just this law school. But Justice Sandra Day O'Connor didn't just do that one act of beneficence to this school. She has been an integral part of this law school community at every turn. She has visited our campus during my time as Dean, this is now I think, her seventh time. And every time she comes, she meets with faculty as she will today. She meets with students as she will today. And she enhances our world. But equally, she's been there as counselor and advisor throughout the evolution of this law school. There is no one outside of the immediate law school community, who is a great friend to this law school, and Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. And I'm delighted to introduce her to you today. Justice O'Connor.

Sandra Day O'Connor [automatically transcribed, may contain inaccuracies]
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Sandra Day O'Connor [automatically transcribed, may contain inaccuracies]
Thank you. Thank you, Dean Sexton. And Mr. Pollock and all the friends of New York University School of Law assemble today. As the Irishman said, before I speak I want to say something. John and I have come to New York City from time to time as Westerners do, especially in the 20 years since I myself have been a an East Coast resident. We have found New York City to be harsh, brash, brassy, tough. We came yesterday afternoon, September the 11th. There is a new spirit here. And it's one of warmth, solidarity, humanity and determination that we have not witnessed before. It's very noticeable and very moving. We made a detour early this morning, to go down to the end of the island and get a glimpse if we could have the incredible damage done on September the 11th. I am still tearful from that glimpse, and it reinforces my admiration for the response of this city and this community and our nation. This sense of solidarity and determination, and above all, humanity, a keras for each other. So it is special. And it's in that spirit that this gathering takes place. And that the start of the reconstruction here, as well as the reconstruction, south of us will take place.

And this is a special day for NYU School of Law. From its inception in 1835 until 1951, you have operated out of the rented space in the factory building. And it's come a long way since the first building next door Vanderbilt Hall has just celebrated its 50th anniversary. And it was the mission of Dean Vanderbilt who truly was the founder of NYU as a modern law school. And following Vanderbilt's vision, the law school has earned a special place in the pantheon of top law schools. This building, as you've heard, will nearly double the law school space. And I for one can't wait to see what you're going to do with it. Even back and Dean Vanderbilt's day, NYU students were top notch. Dean Vanderbilt said, the given take of the classroom and free discussion under the case method of teaching is the best possible training for their trial of cases or the argument of appeals. If one can take with a reasonably intelligent class that catches catch can discussion of the classroom. He can take quite any judge or any appellate tribunal hands out to him anywhere, even including the Supreme Court of the United States.

And having encountered many of your graduates over the years, I have little doubt that Dean Vanderbilt comments are true. But the law school is not focused only on the students right, though they are. It has taken a leading role in the law as it is practiced, focusing on global issues and the development of international law, and bringing together judges and academics from around the world to discuss common issues and concerns. The visions of NYU as not just a law school, but a law center was dean Vanderbilt, and it certainly has been Dean Sexton's. And it's the right vision. It's an expanded wonderful vision. The Deans idea was a good one, particularly because it emphasizes to students the importance of lawyers in society at large. Lawyers hold the keys to justice under a rule of law, the keys that open the court room door, those keys are not held for lawyers own private purposes. They're held in trust for those who would seek justice, rich and poor ally.

Life as a lawyer is a bit more complex today than it was a century ago. The ever increasing pressures of the legal marketplace, the need to Bill hours to market to clients and to attend to the bottom line have made fulfilling the goals of community service more difficult. But public service marks the difference between a business and a profession. While a business can afford to focus solely on profits, a profession cannot. It must devote itself first to the community it is responsible to serve. Ensuring that there is equal justice under law is the same. That brings meaning and joy to a lawyer's professional life. The role of lawyers is no less important in light of the events of September the 11th. The trauma that our nation suffered and that this community suffered on September 11, will and has already altered our way of life. And it will cause us to re examine some of our laws pertaining to criminals, surveillance, wiretapping, immigration, and so on.

It is possible if not likely, that we will rely more on international rules of war than on our terrorist constitutional standards for criminal prosecutions and responding to threats to our national security. As a result, we're likely to experience more restrictions on our personal freedom than has ever been the case in our country. We shall reconsidering and debating among ourselves, all the aspects of our nation's response to terrorism. We wish it were not necessary. We wish we could set the clock back to a time of greater peace and prosperity. But we cannot. We're forced to face the reality of a deadly enemy, and of people who are willing to sacrifice everything to cause harm to our country. As Margaret Thatcher said, where law ends, tyranny begins to preserve liberty, then we must preserve the rule of law. And to preserve the rule of law, we must hold those who violated accountable. But holding those individuals accountable, does not necessarily mean by criminal prosecution. It may require the use of military force. Our Lady system, a pours punishment without formal due process. But no single appropriate no single response is appropriate for every situation. Although it's doubtful that any single response can truly heal a scars from the mass atrocity, we have to heat Ts Eliot's warning that our community cannot try to escape from the darkness outside and within, by dreaming of systems so perfect that no one will need to be good. Instead, we must take the route that vindicates the rule of law to the best of our abilities, pursuing individual justice to the extent practicable, and nurturing more responsible nation states around the globe.

I cannot say how we're going to address all these problems. But I can say I'm sure that lawyers this law school will play an important role. lawyers and academics will close closely examine and debate any changes in our laws designed to enhance the ability of law enforcement to apprehend those who do our citizens arm. lawyers will participate in any prosecutions that eventually occur here against terrorists. lawyers will help draft legislation to provide relief to the people and institutions most directly harmed by terrorist acts. In the process, lawyers and academics will help define how to maintain a fair and adjust society with a strong rule of law at a time, when many are more concerned with safety and a measure of vengeance. This will require lawyers to help sort out questions of all kinds, including compensation of victims and fallen rescuers, the rebuilding of damaged infrastructure and the resurrection of the public's confidence in the security of daily life, it's likely that these issues will take years to resolve. Indeed, many of the law students here at NYU presently will end up working on these issues after they graduate.

And as they prepare for this challenge, I pose to them a couple of questions that strike me as central to the threat posed by terrorism to the rule of law. First, Canada society that prides itself on equality before the law treat terrorists differently than ordinary criminals. And where do we draw the line between them? Second, at what point does a cost to civil liberties from legislation designed to prevent terrorists outweigh the added security that that legislation provides? These are tough questions, and they're going to require a great deal of study goodwill and expertise to resolve them. And in the years to come, it will become clear that the need for lawyers does not diminish in times of crisis. It only increases the need for well trained lawyers who have high ethical and moral standards. And a capacity for problem solving will be greater than ever. If we're going to succeed in convincing us sometimes hostile world, that our dream of a society that conforms to the rule of law is a dream we all should share, then the lawyers of this country, and the law schools must work harder and more persuasively than ever to achieve it. Yes, there is a need for lawyers. There is a need to try with all our skill and effort to build a society here and everywhere. That is just unfair, and approved by example, how it can be done. My new My New York University School of Law construct on this site, a fine new building that will enable us to long continue in its effort to produce well trained lawyers with a strong moral and professional compass to help sustain us and lead us in these difficult years ahead. Thank you, Dean Sexton for letting me be part of this.

Unknown Speaker
We now come to what I will call the sacramental moment. I'll ask each of you to remain seated until at the end of what will be a bit of a ceremony here. I will ask you to stand and then we will all join Mary Jo and a closing hymn. We on the platform party are going to Don our hardhats violet for NYU. And we're going to come down now for a bit of a ceremony but please stay seated until I asked you to do so you each have a hard hat if you wish to reach blow your seat and put it on and it is yours to keep if you choose not to wear it or to keep it as a as a memento of de then leave it in your seat and will be contributing it in your name to the folks downtown at the World Trade Center. But here we go.

Unknown Speaker
Everybody.

Unknown Speaker
Ladies and more on the impact of a terrorist attacks on this morning's Washington journal