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Clockwise from top: South Carolina Supreme Court Justice John Kitttredge talks with Blake Harris \u201924, Jaeyden Hill-Mims \u201924, Cristian Gomez \u201926 and Lilly Meyer \u201924 before a hearing in McAlister Auditorium in October 2023.<\/p><\/div>\n
Before Chief Justice Donald Beatty gaveled the court into each session, however, it was time for breakfast. At receptions before each morning session, the justices made room at the tables for students from The Riley Institute\u2019s Advance Team<\/a>, Mock Trial<\/a> competitors and members of the Pre-Law Society<\/a> executive committee.<\/p>\n \u201cEach day that the Supreme Court of South Carolina was on campus, 20 Furman students who have an interest in public policy and the law were able to join the justices for breakfast,\u201d said Don Gordon, executive director of The Riley Institute.<\/p>\n Isabella Restrepo \u201925, a politics and international affairs and French double major and member of the Pre-Law Society, found the justices to be surprisingly approachable.<\/p>\n \u201cEven though the justices hold so much power in the court, they\u2019re really just people, too,\u201d said the Mock Trial and Advance Team member. \u201cThey were as interested in getting to know us as we were them.\u201d<\/p>\n The chance to network and discuss public policy with peers and high-profile speakers inspired Restrepo to join the Advance Team as a sophomore. In addition to helping staff the Supreme Court sessions and other public events hosted by The Riley Institute, the team meets regularly to talk about issues such as immigration policy and health care.<\/p>\n Restrepo, who plans to attend law school and enter law or politics, is grateful to have had direct access to the state\u2019s highest court in her own backyard.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been exposed to regular circuit courts and criminal courts, but this is so different,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s interesting to see that firsthand without having to drive down to Columbia.\u201d<\/p>\n Cristian Gomez \u201926, Restrepo\u2019s Advance Team and Mock Trial teammate and a fellow Pre-Law Society member, was particularly impressed with Beattie as well as Justice John Kittredge, who gave insight into his day-to-day challenges and priorities.<\/p>\n \u201cIt involves a lot of communication on his part with the defendant and other people involved in the cases,\u201d Gomez said. \u201cHe stressed the importance of making sure that everyone is heard to ensure the fairness of the trial and allow for clear arguments on everyone\u2019s part. That\u2019s really one of the overlooked areas of the system.\u201d<\/p>\n