This month, our firm sent two of our Human Rights Fellows with the partners to watch U.S. Supreme Court oral arguments in Washington, D.C. The Fellows had the chance to watch the arguments in the blockbuster case United States v. Hemani, in which the Court will decide whether the federal government may prohibit users of marijuana from owning firearms.

The Fellows shared their reflections on the trip afterwards:

Juliana: Our trip to D.C. will forever be an unforgettable experience and one of my favorite stories to tell about my time at Hilton Parker.

The Hilton Parker Fellowship is designed not only to provide fellows with valuable work experience in the legal field, but also to expose them to other aspects of the legal world and, hopefully, deepen fellows’ interest in the law. Geoff and Jonathan have an indescribable passion for the law, and their goal is to pass that enthusiasm down to potential future lawyers. Our trip to D.C. is just one example of their commitment to the professional development of their employees.

While in D.C., we were seated in the same room as nine of the country’s most powerful justices. My time so far at Hilton Parker prepared me to read the case briefs and understand each legal argument. It was an honor to watch each justice’s mind at work and follow along with each step of the arguments. While I had always been fascinated by the Supreme Court, being in the room where it all happens was truly inspiring. The excitement I felt only solidified my belief that the law is the right career path for me.

While the trip was short and sweet, we were still given the opportunity to explore some of the city. Greyson and I spent an entire morning at the Holocaust Museum–a must-visit spot in the city. I was also able to visit an old coworker from my time interning in D.C. the summer prior. Being a fellow at Hilton Parker is certainly hard work, but it is incredibly valuable—and made even more rewarding through Geoff and Jonathan’s mentorship and the professional development opportunities they provide.

Greyson: This was my first visit to DC since my eighth grade trip, and my first time at the Supreme Court. I was super excited to get the chance to watch the Supreme Court in action, and made sure to prep myself on the briefings and important cases so that I could follow along. 

The hearing itself was such an amazing experience. I got to sit in the audience and watch the Government and the Respondent go back and forth with the Justices. Thanks to my prior reading, I could follow along with their arguments and reasoning. Getting to watch the highest court in the nation in action helped put the work we do here at Hilton Parker into context. It also gave me perspective on the judicial system as a whole, now that I have had the chance to view proceedings at both the lowest court and the highest. 

After the hearing, we walked around the public access areas of the Court. Jonathan gave me and Juliana a personalized tour and shared anecdotes and cases from many of the justices portrayed on the walls. He answered our questions about Court-specific procedure and we discussed the events of the argument over lunch. 

Another highlight of the trip was the opportunity to visit the Holocaust Memorial Museum. I missed out on this experience during my eighth grade trip so I jumped at the chance to visit this time. The museum was distressing but poignant, and well worth the wait. 

My experience visiting the Supreme Court with Hilton Parker was something that I would not have gotten anywhere else. I am excited for where the next opportunity will take me!

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Hilton Parker LLC is delighted to have been able to enrich the minds of two such young and brilliant fellows and is excited to see what the future holds for them. In the coming months and years, the firm will continue to provide Fellows with unique opportunities for professional and personal development.