Yesterday, perhaps in advance of Superbowl LV, Thompson Reuters hosted a Fireside Chat with retired Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Alan C. Page. Justice Page is also a 2018 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, a 1988 inductee in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and an author of 4 children’s books.
When asked his prediction for the winner of Sunday’s game, Justice Page said that he did not really have a choice for Sunday’s Big Game.
Regarding how to navigate change, however, be it in switching from a professional football career to the law, or social justice reform in the law, Justice Page shared his thoughts.
Justice Page said that what he loved most about playing football was perfecting his art form to perform at the highest level. It wasn’t about winning or losing, but, trying to do “what you do as well as you can.” He continued that you should “put yourself in a position to be successful on a given day.”
One of the keys to success, he said, is focusing on what is important. In football, he learned to identify what was important and focus on that to perform his best.
When football became too repetitious to hold his interest, he pursued law school. Justice Page said that his fascination with the law began at a young age, as he had grown up in the 1950s, and was impacted by the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court case, Brown v. Board of Education. He concluded that “law is about solving problems and helping people. How we leave the world a better place than how we got here.”
Justice Page and his wife, Diane, live their belief in social justice, using his celebrity to help other people see their possibilities. Recognizing disparities in the educational system, and working to bridge the gaps that disproportionately impact students of color, they created the Page Education Foundation to help Minnesota’s Youth of Color Pursue Secondary Education. In learning to see education as a tool for success, over 7000 students have become Page Scholars.
Justice Page said that “We all have that Power. To change the future and make it better than what it might otherwise be.”
Justice Page said that one of his colleagues on the Minnesota Supreme Court pointed out that when it comes to criminal justice reform, we should look at “who we’re mad at versus who we’re afraid of”, and not then treat them the same.
Regarding navigating change, whether in our individual careers, the education system, or criminal justice reforms, Justice Page said that the first question to ask is, “Do we have the will to do something?” He advised that legal professionals need to look at the systems, and become the Founding Fathers and Mothers of a new system based on equal justice under the law, for all.
Justice Page concluded with this charge, “We’ve got the Power to do it. Do we have the Will to act?”
When asked his prediction for the winner of Sunday’s game, Justice Page said that he did not really have a choice for Sunday’s Big Game.
Regarding how to navigate change, however, be it in switching from a professional football career to the law, or social justice reform in the law, Justice Page shared his thoughts.
Justice Page said that what he loved most about playing football was perfecting his art form to perform at the highest level. It wasn’t about winning or losing, but, trying to do “what you do as well as you can.” He continued that you should “put yourself in a position to be successful on a given day.”
One of the keys to success, he said, is focusing on what is important. In football, he learned to identify what was important and focus on that to perform his best.
When football became too repetitious to hold his interest, he pursued law school. Justice Page said that his fascination with the law began at a young age, as he had grown up in the 1950s, and was impacted by the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court case, Brown v. Board of Education. He concluded that “law is about solving problems and helping people. How we leave the world a better place than how we got here.”
Justice Page and his wife, Diane, live their belief in social justice, using his celebrity to help other people see their possibilities. Recognizing disparities in the educational system, and working to bridge the gaps that disproportionately impact students of color, they created the Page Education Foundation to help Minnesota’s Youth of Color Pursue Secondary Education. In learning to see education as a tool for success, over 7000 students have become Page Scholars.
Justice Page said that “We all have that Power. To change the future and make it better than what it might otherwise be.”
Justice Page said that one of his colleagues on the Minnesota Supreme Court pointed out that when it comes to criminal justice reform, we should look at “who we’re mad at versus who we’re afraid of”, and not then treat them the same.
Regarding navigating change, whether in our individual careers, the education system, or criminal justice reforms, Justice Page said that the first question to ask is, “Do we have the will to do something?” He advised that legal professionals need to look at the systems, and become the Founding Fathers and Mothers of a new system based on equal justice under the law, for all.
Justice Page concluded with this charge, “We’ve got the Power to do it. Do we have the Will to act?”