The “Supreme Semester” Continues: Justice Scalia’s Day at RWU Law Part 1

The RWU community had a great day interacting with Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, Antonin Scalia.  The indefatigable Justice had 3 separate sessions with groups of RWU Law students plus a breakfast with leaders of the RI bench and bar and a lunch Q&A with the law school faculty.  Below are photos of Justice Scalia meeting Michael Field ‘97 of the RI Attorney General’s Office and posing with members of the RI Supreme Court.

The entire second year class gathered for a session of Constitutional Law taught by the Justice (and former law professor) and were treated to Justice Scalia’s views on how to interpret the U.S. Constitution, and specifically “his favorite topic,” separation of powers.  Students had a chance to match wits with one of the foremost legal thinkers of recent decades, and they valiantly stood their ground in lively exchanges.

Then a group of student leaders had a chance for an informal and wide-ranging visit with the Justice, where he revealed his favorite baseball team (the Yankees, not a surprise for a native of Brooklyn), his recently-discovered love for wild turkey hunting, and how he chooses and uses his law clerks.

The final event was a Q&A with law students that was open to the media.  It was a colorful exchange, including such gems as: “I wish I could give all of my colleagues on the Supreme Court a stamp that says ‘Stupid Law, But Constitutional.’” At another point, Justice Scalia defended his controversial (and influential) theory of constitutional interpretation—originalism--by insisting “I am not a nut.”

Visit the links below for some of the media coverage of the final session:

Providence Journal
Wall Street Journal Blog
Associated Press
USA Today