Judge Leah Sears: The Next U.S. Supreme Court Justice?

Since becoming Chief Justice divorces and child custody cases have consumed 60 percent of the court’s caseload,” Sears laments.

“I believe that marriage is the most pro-child institution we have,” she said during the live online interview.  “It provides resources for children; it provides stability for children.  I think children need both their mothers and their fathers.  I believe pretty strongly that men are being marginalized; they are not important in the lives of our daughters.” 

She continues, “I’ve gotten divorced so I understand that it happens, but I think it’s done too freely now.  Too many people have children with people they have no intention of making a lifetime commitment to.  I’ve been a judge for 27 years; it is rare that the man who is not the marital partner carries through on that financial and emotional commitment to the child.  Marriage has a way of bringing families together.  You can be a good father, but it’s very difficult when you’re not there. It’s the fault of women too; many women do not include men as part of their mating strategy.  They just want to have a baby and the guy is just [she pauses and smiles] not needed.”

In 1955 when Sears was born 20 percent of all African American children were born out of wedlock.  That number is 80 percent now.  And, children that are born out of wedlock, one out of four do not see their fathers in any two year period, she says.  Eighty percent of the black men in prison come from single parent families As a result; the pretty, perky jurist admits her new pursuit amounts to a daunting uphill battle.

“I didn’t think I’d ever see a black president,” she said, “so I won’t have this it can’t be changed [attitude]; it is what it is and it can’t be reversed.  It is an uphill climb, hell I’ve made uphill climbs before and I intend to make this uphill climb.  I’m going to work very, very, hard to do what I can to try to make a dent in this bad issue – lecture, cajole men, women anybody that will listen.    A lot of people don’t even talk about it anymore; it’s a taboo subject.”

And why retire now, Sears was asked.  Call it restlessness, wanderlust or a higher calling, perhaps.

“When I got put on the court I was shocked,” she reveals. “I wasn’t anticipating it.  [But] I never wanted to do this the rest of my life. There are more mountains to climb; other avenues to explore and I want to do that before I get too old. I would actually like to do some more things.”

Sears concludes, “I also don’t think you ought to stay in office and spend the rest of your life trying to just stay in office because you get jaded and you’re not good anymore.”