George Mason University’s law school in Arlington will be
renamed for the
late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.
The announcement was made March 31, along with news that the
university foundation has received pledges totaling $30
million to support the law school and that three new
scholarship programs will be established.
A university press release said in recognition of the
historic gift, the board of visitors approved renaming the
school The Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason
University to honor the U.S. Supreme Court justice who died
Feb. 13 at age 79. The name the university originally
announced was tweaked April 6 because of an awkward acronym.
“This is a milestone moment for the university,” said George
Mason University President Ángel Cabrera in a
statement. “These gifts will create opportunities to attract
and retain the best and brightest students, deliver on our
mission of inclusive excellence, and continue our goal to
make Mason one of the preeminent law schools in the country.”
According to the university, the gift includes $20 million
from a donor who approached Leonard A. Leo of the Federalist
Society, a personal friend of the late Justice Scalia and his
family. The anonymous donor asked that the university name
the law school in honor of the justice.
“The Scalia family is pleased to see George Mason name its
law school after the Justice, helping to memorialize his
commitment to a legal education that is grounded in academic
freedom and a recognition of the practice of law as an
honorable and intellectually rigorous craft,” said Leo.
Related article:
Cardinal, chaplain praise Scalia as man of faith, family and
the law
The gift also includes a $10 million grant from the Charles
Koch Foundation.
Justice Scalia, the longest-serving justice on the Supreme
Court, spoke at the dedication of the law school building in
1999 and was a guest lecturer at the university.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, his colleague and friend on the
Supreme Court for more than two decades, said Scalia’s
opinions challenged her thinking and that naming the law
school after him was a fine tribute.
“Justice Scalia was a law teacher, public servant, legal
commentator, and jurist nonpareil. As a colleague who held
him in highest esteem and great affection, I miss his bright
company and the stimulus he provided, his opinions ever
challenging me to meet his best efforts with my own. It is a
tribute altogether fitting that George Mason University’s law
school will bear his name. May the funds for scholarships,
faculty growth, and curricular development aid the Antonin
Scalia School of Law to achieve the excellence characteristic
of Justice Scalia, grand master in life and law,” added
Ginsburg in the university release.
“Justice Scalia’s name evokes the very strengths of our
school: civil liberties, law and economics, and
constitutional law,” said Law School Dean Henry N. Butler via
the statement. “His career embodies our law school’s motto of
learn, challenge, lead. As a professor and jurist, he
challenged those around him to be rigorous, intellectually
honest, and consistent in their arguments.”
Scalia was nominated to the high court in June 1986 by
President Ronald Reagan and was confirmed by the Senate that
September. With his death, there are now five Catholics among
the remaining eight justices and
the likelihood of more split votes on court decisions.
Related article:
Fr. Paul Scalia’s homily at his father’s funeral
