There’s nothing quite so competitive as the historical rivalry that exists between Boston’s Red Sox and New York’s Yankees; both on the field and within the fandom. It was this very rivalry that Judge Kenneth Lee of the Ninth Circuit used in comparison to the federal appellate courts’ work environment during an event at UCLA’s law school; organized and hosted by the Federalist Society.
He drew a parallel between bitter rivals; where fans sometimes literally fight each other after having a few too many drinks – akin to the situations within the federal appellate courts. Nevertheless, what’s important to note is that, even amongst such fervor and rivalry, a vast level of respect exists, asserted Judge Lee.
The judiciary’s work environment, according to Judge Lee and Judge James Ho of Fifth Circuit, is overall quite “collegial”. Even when disagreements occur, they both believe that it’s important to “presume good faith and articulate your views”. After all, the person you find yourself disagreeing with today may turn out to be an ally tomorrow.
Such a comparison helps paint a picture of the behind-the-scenes of the U.S. judiciary system, reflecting the intensity, rivalry, but above all, respect amongst judges. The judiciary isn’t a stranger to disagreements, but ensuring that all viewpoints are respected and treated with dignity is paramount to its smooth functioning.
You can read more about what Judges Lee and Ho discussed at the Federalist Society event in the original article here on Bloomberg Law.