Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett visited the Richard Nixon Presidential Library in Yorba Linda, CA, on September 10, 2025, to discuss her autobiography, “Listening to the Law.” As part of Civics Honor at Yorba Linda High School, 10 students and I had the unique opportunity to volunteer at the event and meet Justice Barrett.
We arrived at 8:30 AM, and we were immediately greeted with anti-ICE protesters stationed outside the library, shouting that this activity was “anti-American,” to put it lightly. As we waited in line, Lydia Lin (12) shared, “I was scared because protests can be aggressive. I was more scared about that than what they were saying.” Those 10 minutes felt exceptionally long, with protesters standing on the street, their megaphones raised and chanting.
Inside, it was a completely different world; the outside calamities were dimmed down and faded into calm conversations. The library’s glass doors stood like a transparent barrier. It felt in line with President Nixon’s saying that “we cannot learn from one another until we stop shouting at one another.”
Nixon Foundation staff guided us downstairs for the book signing event. The atmosphere was surreal, a Supreme Court Justice just feet from you. After waiting in line, the class had the opportunity to greet Justice Barrett and take a group photo with her, which, at the time of writing, has yet to be released to us.
We were then moved upstairs into the main theater, where the formal event was taking place. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department presented the colors, followed by the national anthem. Justice Barrett then started the chat with Hugh Hewitt. The chat was focused on Justice Barrett’s personal journey and daily life as a Supreme Court Justice instead of commentary on her recent decisions and rulings. She recounted her summer vacation with her large family, and how she wanted to be the “cool aunt,” and compared her decision to take up the position of Supreme Court Justice to Frodo leaving the Shire. In moments like this, Justice Barrett seems like any other hardworking American woman to whom Aaron Luo (12) “feels like the Supreme Court Justice was a lot more down to Earth.”
The class walked away from the event filled with new knowledge and experiences. The teacher for the civics course, Kelly Buchan (S), “thought it was a great experience for our Mustang kids who got to see both history in action—people exercising their First Amendment rights to protest as well as see and meet the Supreme Court Justice who will be making decisions ’til you kids are well into your 40s.”
For years to come, this visit will remain a meaningful memory. It was a rare moment that allowed students to see, full circle, American democracy and a core member of its future.
