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Justice Sonia Sotomayor, one of the leading figures in the U.S. Supreme Court, has embarked on something of an unexpected journey amidst a whirlwind term packed with landmark cases and momentous decisions. The revered Associate Justice has juggled the legal complexities of her day job with the comparatively joyful task of collaborating on a children’s musical.
An enthusiast of opera, Justice Sotomayor paradoxically found herself as an instrumental voice for Bessie and Bill, an educational theatrical project for children, that debuted in the summer. In the whirl of a bustling judicial season marked by pivotal issues such as gun rights, abortion, and religious freedom, Justice Sotomayor channeled her artistic enthusiasm into this engaging side project.
The musical is a venture of The Bill of Rights: Ten Amendments in Eight Motets, a multi-disciplinary project designed to explore and explicate the ten amendments constituting the Bill of Rights. Orchestrated by Gene Scheer and Tobias Picker, this initiative has assembled an array of artists to interpret each amendment through different mediums – from music and art to dance.
Bessie and Bill represents the First Amendment, which safeguards freedoms concerning religion, speech, press, and the right to peaceably assemble. Intending to make the First Amendment’s importance more digestible for younger audiences, Justice Sotomayor has prepared the lyrics of two songs herself, Free to Be and The Argument Song.
As much an edutainment initiative as it is an art project, Bessie and Bill seeks to provide an accessible, enjoyable gateway for children to understand their rights. Employing musical numbers to explain potentially complex legal concepts can enable young minds to grasp critical civic values in a fun and engaging manner.
The involvement of Justice Sotomayor in such a project offers a refreshing counterpoint to the image of Supreme Court Justices confined solely to the hallways of legal argument and judgment. Leveraging her knowledge, Justice Sotomayor breaks the boundaries between the legal and performing arts world, making the Constitution more understandable and appealing for the younger generation.
In the midst of a hectic term, Justice Sotomayor’s contribution to Bessie and Bill does not just develop her as a multifaceted personality but also highlights the commitment of the judiciary to educate the public about their constitutional rights. Her exceptional ability to balance the weighty issues and deadlines of her professional life with this enlightening side hustle is truly inspiring.
In the current political scenario where legal complexities often take center stage, initiatives like Bessie and Bill fuel a much-needed conversation on civic education. The musical underscores the importance of making dense topics, such as the Constitution, available to learners of all ages, using artistic and approachable ways. With the First Amendment as the musical’s cornerstone, Justice Sotomayor, with her lyrical creations, furnishes an immersive and enchanting way to elucidate our rights.
Bessie and Bill stands as a testament to the scope for creativity in all corners of society, even within the judicial branch traditionally associated with formality and rigidity. A valuable message that lingers from this is the pleasure and worth found in exploring interests outside of one’s primary profession. It is never too late, nor inappropriate, to delve into something new, learn and expand one’s horizons. And who better to exemplify this than Justice Sonia Sotomayor herself.