U.S. Supreme Court

Alito Teaches Constitutional Lesson

  •  
  •  
  •  
  • Print

The U.S. Constitution can provide some simple lessons about life, Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. told college graduates on Saturday.

Speaking to graduates of St. Mary’s College in South Bend, Ind., Alito said the Constitution is relatively short at about 4,500 words, the South Bend Tribune reports. It survives because it separates matters that are fundamental from those that are merely important.

Graduates should do the same, Alito said. A video of his speech is available on C-SPAN.

“Particularly as you go out in the world, you will find that the things that call most insistently upon you for attention on a daily basis are not necessarily the things that are most important in the long run,” he said.

Leo Morris, editorial page editor at the News-Sentinel in Fort Wayne, Ind., suggests at a blog post that flip-flopping presidential candidates would be well-advised to take Alito’s advice to heart.

Give us feedback, share a story tip or update, or report an error.