Concerned about a decline of civics and less tolerance for disagreement, the New York State Bar Association is bringing in U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor for a daylong delve into those matters scheduled to take place on May 9.

Bar leaders say the civics convocation is aimed at examining an understanding of what rights the U.S. Constitution guarantees and how democracy works. Organizers also said they hoped the session would help counteract the ill effects of polarization on the political process.