Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett is set to make a tightly controlled return to her alma mater, Rhodes College, on Wednesday, March 18, for an on-campus appearance limited to preregistered guests. The college says the event will not be open to the general public because of venue capacity and heightened security.
Rhodes Announcement
President Jennifer M. Collins told the campus community that she invited Barrett, along with U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, and that Barrett “has accepted our invitation to come to campus and will be here on March 18,” according to Rhodes College. Collins said the college is still finalizing plans and will release additional details as they become available.
Event Logistics
Local coverage reports that the appearance will be closed to the public “to accommodate venue size and heightened security measures,” with attendance capped at preregistered attendees, according to a Rhodes spokesperson, as reported by LocalMemphis. That reporting also notes it is unclear whether and when Rep. Jasmine Crockett will visit campus.
Barrett's Rhodes Roots
Barrett earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Rhodes College in 1994 and a J.D. from Notre Dame Law School in 1997, according to Britannica. She was confirmed to the Supreme Court in October 2020, with the Senate’s final confirmation vote held on Oct. 26, 2020, per Congress.gov.
A Second Rhodes Justice
Barrett is only the second Rhodes alumnus to serve on the nation’s highest court. The college notes that Abe Fortas, a Southwestern graduate of 1930, joined the Supreme Court in 1965 and served until 1969, as detailed by Rhodes College. Barrett’s visit puts a fresh spotlight on the college’s historic, and at times contentious, ties to national legal debates.
What’s Next
In the lead-up to Barrett’s visit, Provost Tim Huebner and President Collins hosted a book discussion on March 3 about Barrett’s recent book, Listening to the Law: Reflections on the Court and The Constitution. The college said it invited both graduates “in furtherance of our commitment to free expression and civil discourse,” per Rhodes College. For now, the appearance remains strictly RSVP-only, and Rhodes and local outlets say they will share updates if plans or access change.
