Embassy Events 2004

Related Photos

Justice Anthony Kennedy, the first Supreme Court Justice to make an official visit to Poland, visited Krakow and Warsaw during September 19-22. He met with the faculties and students of Jagiellonian and Warsaw Universities, President Aleksander Kwasniewski, and members of the Polish Constitutional Tribunal, Supreme Court, and Supreme Administrative Court.

During his lecture to students and judges, Justice Kennedy spoke about the U.S. Constitution and the separation of powers in the U.S. Government. "The law lives in the consciousness of the people," he said. "The Constitution does not belong to a bunch of lawyers and judges -- it belongs to the people."

He reiterated the responsibility of Americans and Poles to transmit democratic values to younger generations, saying: "Democracy is taught. It is not in one's DNA. It is transmitted from generation to generation."

Justice Kennedy announced the creation of scholarships for Polish law students to attend a one-month seminar at the University of Salzburg in July 2005. The scholarships will be given to two Polish law students -- one from Jagiellonian University, one from Warsaw University -- who will be selected by their respective law faculties.