Justice Scalia Visits Memphis First Supreme Court Justice to visit the new downtown Cecil C. Humpreys School of Law
by MARY WAGNER
faculty at the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, it was the perfect treat to end the fall semester. On December 16th, Justice Antonin Scalia of the United States Supreme Court spent most his day at the law school downtown, speaking with students and faculty. During his day, Justice Scalia attended five different
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events spanning a solid five hours, speaking and engaging with students at each. His schedule, as expressed by Professor Andrew McClurg, “showed a real commitment, not to mention a lot of endurance. It’s very obvious that he enjoys engaging with people especially law students.” Justice Scalia started his day in the historic courtroom at the law school speaking to faculty and staff. Standing in what was a federal courtroom one hundred years ago, Justice Scalia told the faculty he had just one thing to tell them. Although, he admitted Dean Letsou might not appreciate his one comment. He went on to tell the faculty that the most important thing they do is teaching the law.
It is not, he said,
research and writing. As a former law professor himself, he explained the one regret he had from teaching was beginning to begrudge the time that preparing for class took away from
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pending a day with a United States Supreme Court Justice sounds like a dream, a much coveted prize or an item on a bucket list. But it wasn’t. For students and
his research and writing. Share with your students your love for the law, your
view of the law and your approach, he instructed the faculty. He exclaimed there is “more law to learn [now] than ever,” insisting that faculty quit teaching “silly courses” like “Law and Literature” and “Law and Life” and opt instead for more substantive courses on the law.
But don’t get rid of
discriminatory grading he warned. A sentiment the faculty, who are in the middle of grading final exams, hoped he would pass on to the students. During the presentation, the faculty learned that Justice
Scalia himself had focused well on teaching, prior to becoming a member of the Court. Professor Eugene Shapiro from the University of Memphis had Justice Scalia as a professor for contracts and legal writing in law school at the University of Virginia. Professor Shapiro noted that Justice Scalia was the best
teacher he ever had because he taught his students “how to think.” Professor Shapiro also noted that his students today have nothing on him when they complain about oral arguments for their legal methods adjuncts. Professor Shapiro’s oral arguments were before the soon-to-be Supreme Court Justice. Following his time with the faculty, Justice Scalia attended
a reception for state and federal judges, and then spoke at a luncheon open to the general public. In front of a crowd of
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