Convocation | Hon. Colleen Sterne
April 9, 2018
“The truth will out,” said Judge Sterne, holding her audience silently entranced as she brought her presentation to a close.
Colleen Sterne, Superior Court judge, Episcopal priest, and humanist, spoke to the Cate community on Monday evening. Bringing to the occasion her years on the bench and in the pulpit, Judge Sterne addressed this year’s inquiry question – Is truth universal? – from her unique perspective.
Judge Sterne was very clear in her belief that the importance of truth-telling is a universal cultural value. Drawing upon her years of seeing the worst and the best of human nature in her courtroom, she also cited conflict as the defining fact of human existence. Judge Sterne has dedicated her professional life to the idea that peaceful resolution of disputes large and small is dependent upon truth and our dedication to justice. However, she also recognizes that there are different kinds of truth. In her mind, the larger categories for sorting truths include factual truth (that which can be empirically verified), shared truth (dependent on the size of the group that shares it), and personal truths, including religious belief. As a priest, Judge Sterne categorized herself as someone who counts on religious belief to sustain her faith in humanity. She was also very insistent that “There are many paths to the well,” stating repeatedly her belief in the commonalities between major world religions and the necessity for peaceful coexistence.
The judge described her career as one that makes a difference in daily lives. As a person who presides in family law cases, she shapes children’s lives in particular. In response to a question about remorse posed by Chrissy Robinson ’18, Judge Sterne admitted that the decisions about the welfare of children sometimes keep her up at night. Another student question, this one about where the law physically resides, had the judge sounding a positive note. She sees access to justice as improving mightily as the word of law moves from bookshelves to the cloud. Judge Sterne stressed the importance of the work that she does and challenged her Cate audience to consider the form as a career path. Insatiable curiosity, interest in the lives of others, and an ability to manage time are the key traits necessary for a judge, so Cate students might be a great fit.
About Convocation
Convocation is a celebrated tradition of boarding school life at Cate. A series of speakers and performers addresses the School every Monday in the theatre after a formal dinner in the Raymond Commons. The Convocation Series often reflects the year’s inquiry question, which guides the pedagogy for the school year. This year’s inquiry question: Is Truth Universal?