A Louisville mom wanted her son to go to one school but he couldn’t because it would throw off the racial balance. One of the justices asked “will race never be a factor?” Now retired Justice Sandra Day O’Connor said maybe one day we don’t have to think about it and we will be a fully integrated society but the country is not at that point just yet. Other Justices eluded to the fact that the use of race to keep diversity is unconstitutional. You can listen to the court watchers who say Justice Alito could be the tiebreaking vote for the conservatives or that Justice Kennedy might write the opinion. But we’ll all have to wait until next year to see where kids end up going to school and how it will impact our community.
__________________________________
Photographs from Renee's trip:

All photographs by WHAS11 News reporter Renee Murphy
__________________________________
When I arrived the afternoon before the oral arguments, I went by the Supreme Court to get my bearings and to figure out how to navigate Washington D.C.’s metro system. There were already law students camped out on the steps of the courthouse. They wanted to ensure they could get a seat inside the court for the case that could change the way race is used in all of our lives. I was happy to see such dedication from students who came from as far as Chicago and Boston.

The morning of the oral arguments I was supposed to do a live report from the White House. I got up extra early, and was so proud because I didn’t get lost on the metro line, only to be greeted with a big fat “no ma’am” from security. There is no budging at the White House. I had a confirmation email saying I was credentialed and on the list. Well, I wasn’t on the list and that was that. The guards were actually quite nice about it. I was supposed to be on air in 4 minutes at this point. So I called the producer and ran to our bureau office in D.C. which was just 2 blocks away. I was allowed in there and was able to do my live report for the second half of the morning show.

Then I had a little time before I needed to head over to the Court so I stopped in Starbucks right next to the White House to warm up and wake up a little. Yes there is now a Starbucks within eyesight of the White House. This is the part where I like to say I had coffee with columnist Helen Thomas. Not really but she was sitting next to me and was greeted by just about every major White House Correspondent who walked in. As she should have, being one of the first female White House Correspondents.

At the Court the demonstrations were already in full swing when I got there at 7:45am. Remember the first case out of Seattle wasn’t being heard until 10am then Jefferson County at 11am. It was surreal to stand there on the steps of the Supreme Court and then to be in the middle of all that – what a rush.

I had to get to the press office early, partly because I didn’t know exactly where to go and partly because the lady helping me said she could help me early and that was it.

Once all of the reporters were in the press office (which was a trailer like the ones you had math in during your middle school years) we all had to walk over to the Court together with only a notebook and pen. When I saw where we were supposed to be sitting I have to admit I was shocked. It was like the overflow rooms that churches have when the sanctuary is full. We couldn’t even see the Justices and barely the courtroom. There were huge pillars in the way and curtains. It was so tight, we sat shoulder to shoulder. I could see the attorneys and if I leaned over really far I could see Justice Alito (who didn’t ask a lot of questions). Since I couldn’t see any of the Justices I had to try and pick out the voices. Some were distinguishable, like Justice Antonin Scalia whose presence is resounding in the courtroom. And of course it was easy to tell Ruth Bader Ginsberg. But Justices Kennedy, Souter and Breyer kind of ran together. Justice Thomas didn’t say anything at all.

I thought the arguments would be more like a trial. The attorneys would present their evidence and the Justices would ask questions. Boy was I wrong. The attorneys would talk for a little then the Justices would cut them off and interrupt. At some points the Justices started talking over each other. They asked about so many hypothetical scenarios and situations. As a lay person it was hard to gauge which way this thing could go.

After the arguments and all the interviews with the attorneys my photographer and I went to the Lincoln Memorial where the protestors had marched to. Scores of kids filled the same steps where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stood. Their intentions were good but unfortunately many didn’t have a good understanding of the case or what was happening at Court. They kept talking about affirmative action and this wasn’t really about that. Affirmative action helps to give merit or points to minorities because of their skin color. I guess you could argue it both ways but the Justices even said this wasn’t really about affirmative action because every student got to go to a comparable school. I loved seeing young people mobilized for a cause, I just hope if there is a next time they have all the facts straight.

At this point it was time to write all my stories for the newscasts, get them to the editor and get to the Capitol building for my live report at 5pm. It was a day I will never forget. Maybe one day my news career will lead me back to cover another Supreme Court case.