Aric Sleeper here, thinking about the formation of the United States and the blueprint of our three branches of government, the Constitution, which was signed on this day in 1787 by the delegates of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.
In 1952, the U.S. Congress designated Sept. 17 as Citizenship Day to celebrate those who have become U.S. citizens. In 2004, the name was changed to Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, and the law was amended to include a mandate that all federally funded educational institutions give educational programming about the historic document and its creation.
In Monterey County, Monterey County Superior Court judges take a break from their roles as adjudicators to present to classes at area schools during the week of Sept. 14-24, including judges Rafael Vazquez, Sam Lavorato, Ian Rivamonte, Carrie Panetta, Vanessa Vallarta, Elizabeth Leitzinger and Jared Jefferson, alongside research attorneys Darren Bean and Branwen Francis.
Judge Vazquez, who recently spoke with students at Del Rey Woods Elementary School in Seaside and Oak Avenue Elementary School in Greenfield, took time from his busy day to talk with me about the importance of the Constitution and his discussions about the foundational document with young students around Monterey County.
“The Constitution is the supreme law of the land,” Vazquez says. “As I explained to the young students that we have presented to over the past week, we are fortunate that we have a country that has a Constitution that as of today’s date is approximately 239 years old.”
Vasquez is especially fond of the Constitution because, as he tells students: “I don’t think I’d have a job if it weren’t for that document because I wouldn’t be a representative of the judicial branch, one of the branches of the government that was created by the articles of the Constitution."
Judges, locally and nationally, primarily serve their communities, Vasquez says, and speaking to young students about the country’s founders, the Constitution and his own work as a judge is important because “the foundations of the judicial system are brought to life.”
“We are essentially empowering educators and inspiring the next generation of active and informed young citizens, and hopefully they will pursue a path of the study of law and then get involved in serving our legal and judicial institutions,” he says.
Vazquez, who grew up in South County and attended Oak Avenue Elementary School, says that he is constantly impressed by the knowledge, curiosity and understanding of the fifth- and sixth-graders he visits during this week and that the interactions are just as energizing and enriching for him as they are for the students.
“I had a young student tell me about how his parents came from Vietnam and how they struggled when they came here. I shared with him that my parents came from Mexico and they struggled as well, so you and I have a lot in common,” Vazquez says. “It makes me realize that they are no different than I was.”
Vazquez highlights how he and his colleagues take pride in their civic duty by taking time to interact with young people and community members of Monterey County.
“It’s because they believe 100-percent in our responsibility and our duty to perform this outreach,” he says. “That’s just as important as carrying out our responsibilities in the courtroom.”