Our friends at the Federalist Society have posted a comprehensive set of links to the videos of this year’s National Lawyers Convention programs here. As promised, they have posted the 51-minute video of Justice Thomas’s interview with Seventh Circuit Judge Diane Sykes this past Thursday evening at the Federalist Society’s annual dinner. Those of us in attendance that night knew we had been witness to something special.

Responding to the questions put to him by Judge Sykes, Justice Thomas told a deeply American story. He ranged widely over his life and career, recalling his slave forebears, his grandparents, his teachers, his studies in college, seminary and law school, and his first job with Senator John Danforth. He recalled the day he gave up the hate in his heart — April 16, 1970. (He writes of that day in chapter 3 of My Grandfather’s Son.) He also spoke frequently of his loves. He spoke of his love for his wife, for his life on the Court, for his clerks, and above all, for the Constitution. The interview makes a great contribution and ends on a high note. You won’t want to miss this one.