Mountain Ridge High Students Will Build Sotomayor Chair
Students in West Jordan will construct a custom white oak and maple rocking chair for a Supreme Court Justice.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Secondary Education
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Students and a teacher at Mountain Ridge High School are preparing to complete a custom rocking chair for Sonia Sotomayor by Thanksgiving 2026. The project follows a request from the Supreme Court Justice after she viewed an original version during her September visit to the Jordan School District.
Why it matters
The custom furniture project highlights the intersection of vocational training and high-profile community engagement within the local school district. It provides students with a unique opportunity to apply woodworking skills to a piece intended for a permanent place in Washington, D.C.
The rocking chair, crafted from white oak and maple, is currently in production at Mountain Ridge High School. It follows a design based on an original chair built two years ago by Steven Tanner.
The players
Sonia Sotomayor
An Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States who requested the custom furniture.
Steven Tanner
A craftsman who designed the original patriotic rocking chair that inspired the current student project.
Mountain Ridge High School
A secondary school in the Jordan School District providing vocational woodworking training to students.
Jordan School District
The local educational authority that hosted the Supreme Court Justice during her September visit.
The details
Students are building the piece in the school woodworking shop using a blend of white oak and maple. This process builds upon the design of a patriotic rocking chair that Steven Tanner created two years ago. Once finished, the piece will be shipped to Washington, D.C., where Sonia Sotomayor plans to display it outside her chambers.
Timeline
Two years ago, Steven Tanner built the original rocking chair.
Sonia Sotomayor visited the Jordan School District in September 2026.
The new chair is expected to be completed by Thanksgiving 2026.
The Home Front
This project aligns with the long-standing tradition of bespoke furniture being commissioned for and displayed within federal judicial chambers. It underscores how local vocational woodworking programs contribute to both professional skills and unique community-led heritage projects.
Families interested in home woodworking projects can look to the combination of white oak and maple for durable, long-lasting furniture construction. Consult with a professional woodworker or furniture designer to determine the appropriate finishes for high-traffic pieces in your own home.
The takeaway
This project demonstrates the practical value of school woodworking programs when students apply professional design standards to complex builds. For home hobbyists, the use of durable hardwoods like oak and maple serves as a reminder to prioritize high-quality materials for furniture that will see frequent use.
What happens next
The final rocking chair is scheduled to be completed by Thanksgiving 2026.
Further reading
Learn more about the district's vocational offerings in Secondary Education.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KSL.
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