Remembering Justice Scalia

Upon the passing of Justice Scalia, I wanted to share my personal recollections I have associated with him. I was only twice in the same room with Justice Scalia. The first time I was just barely a 1L and had a last minute opportunity to see him in an auditorium in downtown Ft. Worth. I even dragged my four year old son with me! I didn’t know much about the Court at that time but found him to be engaging, funny, witty, and amazingly quick and intelligent. I loved him immediately.

The second time, I managed to be within a few feet of him at the U.S. Supreme Court when I was sworn in with my Texas Wesleyan colleagues on a special trip to DC. That was a great day – it’s memorialized on my office wall where I proudly hang a picture of me with Chief Justice Roberts. I met Justice Ginsberg that day too. I will never get over what a tiny lady she is, but when she speaks you can hear a pin drop. Justice Kennedy was there too and he also was also very funny and lovable.

As a writing teacher, I will especially miss Justice Scalia’s unique style. I’ll never again rush straight to his opinion, skipping over the others, no matter whether he was in the majority or the dissent. A true historical giant. Regardless of political persuasion, whoever replaces him has monumental shoes to fill.