ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) – Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan said Thursday that the newly renamed Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University celebrates a “remarkable judge and teacher” who will be remembered as one of the greatest justices in history.
Speaking at a dedication ceremony marking the name change, Kagan praised the late justice and conservative icon for transforming legal culture and challenging law students “to think harder than they’ve ever thought before.”
“He could grab hold of students, shake them and turn them upside down solely by means of his written opinions,” she said.
Five other Supreme Court justices attended the dedication at the school’s campus in a suburb of Washington, along with several justices from Virginia’s Supreme Court, hundreds of students and faculty, and members of Scalia’s extended family.
George Mason University officials announced plans to change the name shortly after Scalia died in February. The move was tied to a $10 million grant from the Charles Koch Foundation and a $20 million matching grant from an anonymous donor that is contingent on renaming the school.