The Honorable Antonin Scalia to Speak at Luncheon

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Honorable Antonin Scalia, Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, will be the featured speaker at a luncheon at noon on March 13 in the Hyatt Regency Buffalo. He is coming to Buffalo at the invitation of Rabbi Noson Gurary, regional director of the Chabad House of Buffalo and an adjunct faculty member in the Law School.

The University at Buffalo Law School is co-sponsoring the event.

Established in 1970, Chabad House serves the Jewish students, faculty and administrators at the University at Buffalo. Under the leadership of Rabbi Gurary, Chabad provides a wide range of religious, educational and social programs for the benefit of the university and general communities.

Born in Trenton, N.J., in 1936, "Nino" (as he is known by family and friends) graduated first in his class from Georgetown University and magna cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1960. He practiced law with the firm of Jones, Day, Cockley & Reavis, in Cleveland, Ohio, from 1961-67, and then joined the faculty of the University of Virginia. Four years later he joined the administrations of Richard M. Nixon and later served Gerald Ford.

Scalia returned to academia until President Ronald Reagan was elected. Appointed to the prestigious U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, in 1982, Scalia quickly earned a reputation for his keen intellect, his pleasure in vigorous legal arguments and his gregarious temperament.

Nominated by President Reagan, Scalia took the oath of office as a justice on the Supreme Court on Sept. 26, 1986, becoming its youngest member and its first Roman Catholic since the appointment of William J. Brennan in 1957. Since then, he has clearly played an important part in revitalizing conservative Constitutional interpretation in the nation's highest court.

According to legal historians, Scalia is an "originalist," and argues that the Constitution should be interpreted in the light of the understanding of its text at the time it was written. He has also expressed a preference for clear constitutional rules. One of the Court's sharpest minds, he is known for his lively phrasing and entertaining wit, contributing colorful phrases in judicial opinions and lectures to legal audiences.

The cost of the luncheon is $40 per person, or $400 for a firm/corporate table of 10. Firm/corporate tables will be designated with name cards.

Advance reservations are necessary. Please respond by March 6. Checks should be payable to the UB Law Alumni Association, or send a charge authorization for MasterCard or Visa to: UB Law Alumni Office, 312 O'Brian Hall, Buffalo, N.Y. 14260. Fax registration will be accepted for those paying by credit card (Fax: 716-645-5940).

Dietary laws will be observed. There will be no solicitation of funds. Questions should be addressed to Ilene Fleischmann at 645-2107.