Some of you may recall our coverage (here and here) of Justice Antonin Scalia's recent talk to promote his new book, Making Your Case: The Art of Persuading Judges. The event took place here in Washington, D.C., in early June. As you can tell from our write-ups, we enjoyed the evening greatly (and will always treasure our signed copy of Justice Scalia's book).

But not everyone left a happy camper. We received a heartfelt letter from an ATL correspondent whom we shall refer to only as "Nino Fanboy." He sent the following letter to Justice Scalia, on the day following the event. We received a copy more recently. It begins:

Dear Justice Scalia:

I attended your book signing [on June 3rd] sponsored by the Federalist Society. For years now I've been a fond fan of yours. I would even call you my intellectual hero. I've always admired your charm and wit. But last night my image of you turned sour.

Several years ago I purchased a copy of A Matter of Interpretation [Justice Scalia's 1997 book]. It has been a source of inspiration to me. I consider myself an ardent defender of Originalism. I attend the Catholic University, Columbus School of Law, and have engaged in several debates with classmates on the proper role of the courts and the best method of interpretation.

I bought a copy of A Matter of Interpretation (from which you received royalties) in the hopes that one day I would meet you and you would sign it. Last night I thought I'd found my opportunity. But I was waived [sic] away by you like a servant to a "philosopher king."

Read the rest of Nino Fanboy's strangely moving letter -- this is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg -- after the jump.

We wouldn't have guessed this, in light of his social conservatism and the show's risqué nature. But here it is, from New York Magazine's Intelligencer:

Apparently Antonin Scalia is a Sex and the City fan. When Sarah Jessica Parker finished an interview with Charlie Rose on May 29, she left the Bloomberg Building, where the show is taped, and stopped for a cigarette in the courtyard. The conservative Supreme Court justice emerged from a nearby Town Car and rushed over to praise the star.

"He was absolutely gushing, telling her how much he loved her show and how excited he was to see the movie," says a witness. "Finally, he asked her if he could bum a cigarette." She obliged, the witness said, and then Scalia strolled away. A Supreme Court spokeswoman confirmed the meeting but denied the cadge. "He was there for a symposium," she said. "And he lent her a match."

What, no lighter? Supreme Court justices may be underpaid, but Justice Scalia, who recently reported assets between $1.5 million and $3 million, can surely afford a nice Dunhill.

On second thought, maybe chemistry between SJP and AS isn't so surprising after all. Justice Scalia does look a little like "Mr. Big." (Or, to put it another way, Chris Noth looks like a young Scalia.)

Over at the WSJ Law Blog, a commenter speculates: "That is a new low, a guy telling a woman how much he likes 'Sex and the City' in order to bum a cigarette from her. How many guys really like that HBO series? Not very many. Scalia must be a hard core nicotine addict."

Update / Correction: This post is subject to a correction. Please see here.

Love Supreme for Carrie Bradshaw [Intelligencer / NYM via WSJ Law Blog]

Last week, as reported in the Charlottesville Daily Progress (via the WSJ Law Blog), judicial superstar Antonin Scalia graced the University of Virginia School of Law with his presence. America's coolest justice and America's coolest law school: a winning combination.

An ATL reader wrote in to supplement the coverage of Justice Scalia's visit:

I noticed that the WSJ Law Blog reported on Justice Scalia’s lecture at the University of Virginia School of Law. They did not, however, report that Scalia also taught a 1L Con Law class.... He spoke generally about judicial restraint, but the real fun came when he fielded questions.

Here's the first exchange described by our correspondent:

Student: How do you reconcile your calls for judicial restraint with the court’s actions in Bush v. Gore?

Justice Scalia: Oh, get over it! Do you really think we weren’t going to grant cert?

And the second:

Student [so nervous that he’s reading his question off a sheet of paper]: “Thank you for your comments this morning. You have spoken about the dangers of an encroaching judiciary, but is it not the case that this rhetoric is a smoke-screen, a mere chimera, meant to distract us from the imperialization of the Executive Branch and…”

Justice Scalia [interrupting loudly]: Are you reading that? Chimera?

Student: …Well, I…

Justice Scalia: No, I get your question; the Imperial Executive is a sheer fantasy...

Love him or hate him, Nino makes for good copy. This charismatic and colorful jurist isn't called the Rock Star of One First Street for nothing. If you have funny stories about encounters with Justice Scalia that you've participated in or witnessed, feel free to share them in the comments.

The Scalia Road Show Talks Religion in Charlottesville [WSJ Law Blog]

One of the great things about going to law school here in Washington, D.C., is access to the U.S. Supreme Court. If you're at Georgetown Law and want to watch a SCOTUS argument, you can just stroll on over to One First Street.

And sometimes the mountain comes to Mohammed. Justices of the Supreme Court regularly visit Georgetown University Law Center. For example, last November, as reported in these pages, Justice Antonin Scalia paid a visit.

Today his considerably more liberal counterpart, fellow opera lover Ruth Bader Ginsburg, graced GULC with her presence. From a tipster (who took the iPhone picture at right):

Justice Ginsburg just left an admitted students event at GULC, a discussion about U.K./U.S. comparative law. Also in attendance was Lady Hale of the soon-to-be U.K. Supreme Court.

Justice Ginsburg was very dignified. She was wearing a brown suit -- it looked like a carpet -- paired with white stockings and yellowish shoes.

Best part: when she whipped a copy of the Constitution out of her pocket and read out the Equal Protection Clause!!!

I had my Con Law book ready for her signature, but she snuck out a side door right afterwards.

For the Article III groupies among you, a little more description of the event appears after the jump.

Our latest legal celebrity sighting: Justice Antonin Scalia, spotted at Georgetown University Law Center. He is believed to have been at GULC to speak to a con law class.

Of the current justices on the Supreme Court, Justice Scalia clearly inspires the greatest amount of fanatical devotion. How many other justices have their own fansite?

(Okay, Justice Thomas has one too. And with his new, bestselling memoir, My Grandfather's Son, he's definitely building a fan base. But we still think that Justice Scalia has the most groupies of any member of the SCOTUS.)

And how many other justices are asked to sign students' laptop computers? This student, who had his laptop autographed by AS, was proudly displaying his computer to his classmates, saying that he felt Scalia had "blessed" his laptop for the upcoming exams.

With such a large and devoted following, we have a feeling that Justice Scalia's forthcoming book -- Making Your Case: The Art of Persuading Judges, a guide to persuasive legal writing and oral advocacy, which he's writing together with legendary legal writing teacher Bryan Garner -- will sell pretty well too.

Scalia to Join Supreme Court Book Club [Legal Times]

So just how large was the settlement in Charney v. Sullivan & Cromwell? Professor Scott Moss argued it was probably modest, while Professor Art Leonard believed it to be more substantial.

Here's some evidence in favor of a larger settlement:

On Saturday at around 5 p.m., I spotted Aaron Charney in a cafe, in the bucolic town of Cold Spring, New York. I would have gone up and talked to him, but I realized who he was too late.

He was dressed in preppy fall wear, very J. Crew, with a wool hat. He was with two friends, and he was joking with them. He looked happy.

Well, how happy? Was it a $500,000 kind of happy, or a $2 million kind of happy?

Earlier: Just How Far Did S&C 'Bend Over' for Aaron Charney?

On Tuesday, we reported on several sightings of former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, in the vicinity of 13th and F Streets here in Washington, DC. Now we know what he was doing in that part of town:

[F]ormer AGAG has retained George Terwilliger of White & Case to represent him in the investigation surrounding his mismanagement of Justice. White & Case is on 13th between F and G.

So it looks like George Terwilliger, who was considered but passed over for AG, will get to clean up after Alberto after all.

Alberto Gonzales Hires Defense Attorney [AP]
Judge Alberto Gonzales’s Latest Hire [WSJ Law Blog]

Earlier: The Eyes of the Law: Alberto Gonzales

Here's our latest legal celebrity sighting, for our occasional Eyes of the Law feature:

I've seen Alberto Gonzales walking the streets near Metro Center three times in the last month. Today he was walking with a blonde woman who was keeping a comfortable distance and not saying much. She looked like someone I should recognize, but didn't.

Hmm... Might it have been Monica Goodling?

Or maybe not:

I think the blonde woman may have been his wife? [Ed. note: Our source directed us to the photo at right.]

All three times have been right around the intersection of 13th and F Streets. Today he was walking west on F Street, and the last time I remember he was walking south on 13th Street. He was with someone then too, but it was a man, and so obviously not his wife. Can't remember the time before that.

Any idea what he's up to these days? BTW: he looks taller on TV, but then again I guess everyone does.

True; the celebrities we've met generally look smaller in real life. But there are some exceptions. E.g., Bill Clinton (who is taller in real life than you'd expect).

Have you seen a famous lawyer or judge out and about lately? If so, please email us. Thanks.

Update: We now think we know what Alberto Gonzales was doing in that part of town. See here.

If you enjoy spotting legal celebrities, then the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, here in Washington, DC, is where it's at. Check out these latest Eyes of the Law sightings:

"On Sunday, it was the symphony opening at the Kennedy Center. I walked in with Justice Alito, and Justice Ginsburg came a bit later. And Vernon Jordan."

"There were also non-legal celebrities in attendance: Steven Schwarzman, Alphonso Jackson, Tom Friedman, and Nancy Brinker, the former head of the Komen Foundation and the new U.S. Chief of Protocol."

"On Monday, at the opera, I spotted Nina Totenberg. She wore a nice blue suit and had full metal makeup and hair."

"She stood in line for her drink in the lobby along with everyone else and did not push to the front or demand that others get her drink for her. Apparently this is very out of character for her."

If you spot a legal celeb out and about, please let us know, by email. Cell phone pictures and even TMZ-style video are always welcome. Thanks.

Okay, so the folks over at TMZ.com don't chase them around yet. But here at ATL, we adore legal celebrities -- and invite you to send in your encounters with them, for our Eyes of the Law sightings column.

Last Friday, for lovers of legal boldface names from the left or the right, William & Mary School of Law was the place to be:

William and Mary Law School (and the College) had a series of speakers of today, all wedged into a very tight schedule. They included:

At noon, former Dean of UC Irvine School of Law Erwin Chemerinsky. Unfortunately, I didn't go to his talk, so I can't say whether he talked about the controversy.

At 1 PM, UC Berkley professor (and evil incarnate if you believe some blogs) John Yoo spoke. Yoo said in his introduction that he was being "wedged in" between "the former Dean of UC Irvine" and Stuart Taylor, who was speaking at 2 on his book on the Duke rape case, "Until Proven Innocent."

We also had a panel on Saturday on "Judicial Modesty," which included such leading lights as Dahlia Lithwick, Michael McConnell, Carter Phillips and Jeffrey Rosen. See here (PDF).

Quite the weekend for legal geeks! (Er. You know. If I was one of them).

Although this tipster wasn't at the Chemerinsky talk, other ATL readers were. Check out this video, posted on the blog of the W&M chapter of the American Constitution Society. Isn't Chemerinsky adorable?

Additional discussion of the Erwin Chemerinsky and John Yoo appearances, after the jump.

Here's a random legal / political celebrity sighting, sent to us last night, in real time (at around 8 PM):

I'm riding the Philly-to-DC Acela, and who should be in first class but the original don of the Homeland, Tom Ridge, Esq. A dark horse candidate coming down to be reviewed as a potential AG?

The former governor is looking dapper, in a double-breasted, navy pinstripe suit (although the bluetooth earpiece is too much). He's carrying only a small leather bag.

Tom Ridge for AG? Not as predictable as, say, Mike Chertoff. But when it comes to picking a new attorney general, we're all in favor of outside-the-box thinking.

Oh wait, sorry, an update and correction:

Upon de-training, it is clear that Ridge's bag is a black nylon duffel -- not leather. I catch his attention and ask him if he prefers "Governor Ridge" or "Secretary Ridge," and he responds the former, although "Tom is fine."

Have you recently seen a legal luminary around town? Please send "Eyes of the Law" sightings to us by email. Thanks.

We all scream for ice cream! And that includes high-ranking officials of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Here's our latest legal celebrity sighting:

Last night I watched the fireworks from the South Lawn of the White House. The event had a very DC feel to it: everyone there was quasi-famous, even if you couldn't figure out why.

But I did recognize one person: Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty, the second-highest-ranking official at the DOJ. He was dressed casually, in a red polo shirt, and was sitting on a blanket with his wife and kids.

McNulty may not be Brad Pitt -- but here in Washington, he might as well have been. People kept going up to him, introducing themselves, and having their picture taken with him. This is clearly the dorkiest city in the entire country (and I count myself among the dorks, since I recognized him too).

I discreetly took two photographs of DAG McNulty munching on a Dove ice cream bar. Here they are.

High-ranking Justice Department officials: they're just like us. They eat ice cream bars!

Earlier: Every DAG Has His Day

This one's a vicarious "Eyes of the Law" through a source in New York. According to the source:

"Since we're getting close to the end of the Supreme Court's Term, people might be wondering: Are we going to see any retirements this year? Will Justice John Paul Stevens finally pack it in? Or what about Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who was described as looking somewhat frail earlier this year?"

"Well, I wouldn't count on RBG stepping down anytime soon. At the Second Circuit conference a few weeks ago, I saw Justice Ginsburg dancing a jig -- with Judge Pierre Leval of the Second Circuit, another prominent judicial liberal."

"I tried to take some video with my camera phone, but it came out unusual. That may be for the best."

We wonder if it was "for the best" because of the dancing being anything like this:

At any rate, it sounds like Ginsburg is definitely still kicking.

We're about to sit down and enjoy a sandwich we just picked up from Cosi. If it's good enough for the Chief Justice, it's good enough for us.

Normally we'd wash our hands first. But not today.

Why? Because we just met Harriet Miers -- and shook her hand!

We were crossing the street at 15th and L Streets in downtown Washington, shortly after 2 PM today. Walking towards us were three well-dressed, older lawyers: two tall men, and a much shorter woman.

We had that feeling of "we know her from somewhere." And suddenly it hit us:

ATL: "Oh my goodness. You're Harriet Miers!!!"

HEM: "Yes."

ATL: "Wow, I'm a huge fan of yours. Thank you for all of your great work!"

We then shook hands with the former Supreme Court nominee. Her handshake was just right: firm, but far from crushing.

More details from this sighting, after the jump.

Time for an installment of ATL's legal celebrity sightings column, The Eyes of the Law. This one is especially juicy.

We hear that last week, embattled Attorney General Alberto Gonzales was sighted in the Houston office of Vinson & Elkins -- the firm where he was once a partner. His presence was not kept a secret, since he walked right past the offices of several summer associates.

Was AGAG just paying a friendly visit to some of his former partners? Or could his drop-by signify that he might be resigning as Attorney General and returning to his former stomping grounds (a la Harriet Miers, who returned to Locke Liddell after stepping down as White House Counsel)?

If you think we're getting carried away, we'd like to remind you: office visits can be very revealing. Remember when a bunch of Weil Gotshal bankruptcy partners defected to Cadwalader back in March? A week before their move was announced, the ex-Weil partners were sighted in the Cadwalader offices, on an evening tour led by CWT chairman Robert Link and bankruptcy chairman Bruce Zirinsky.

If you have any scuttlebutt to add about Gonzales and V&E, please email us. Thanks.

Update: According to this comment, "He was there for the funeral of a former partner -- Rush Record." This explanation sounds plausible to us, since Mr. Record did pass away last week.

The latest item for Eyes of the Law, our legal celebrity sightings column, is a doozy. From the AP:

Rock band Bon Jovi, Harrisburg restaurants and school bands from all over the state were part of yesterday's daylong celebration of Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell's inauguration for a second term....

Even more talented than Rendell was his wife, Midge Rendell [aka Third Circuit Judge Marjorie O. Rendell], who capped the concert by singing a duet with rock star Jon Bon Jovi of "Who Says You Can't Go Home?"

The performance brought the night's first standing ovation. Rendell ambled up on stage afterward and marveled that no other first lady could sing with Bon Jovi.

"Take that Maria Shriver," he bellowed, referring to the wife of California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Please correct us if we're wrong. But this is, as far as we know, the first time a federal circuit judge has sung a duet with Jon Bon Jovi.*

In addition to her musical prowess, the Honorable Marjorie Rendell also deserves props for being the Stylish Marjorie Rendell. The attractive Judge Rendell, a federal judicial hottie, wore a gown by noted designer Paula Hian to the inauguration festivities.

For hard-core fashionistas, a lengthy description of the frock appears after the jump.

We've solicited funny holiday party stories from you. We haven't received much thus far.

But from the legendary Southern District of New York, probably the nation's most distinguished district court bench, we did get this account of its celebrated "Courthouse Follies" (which took place on the evening of Friday, December 15):

Item: The Southern District of New York's "Courthouse Follies," tonight.

Showstopping performance: A boisterous musical number by Judge Jed Rakoff (at right), Judge Laura Taylor Swain, Magistrate Judge Ronald Ellis, and Chief Magistrate Judge Lisa Margaret Smith. Sung to the tune of "There Once Was a Man" from Doris Day's "The Pajama Game," with additional lyrics and dialogue by Judge Rakoff, the act featured Judge Rakoff in a blond fright wig, Judge Swain in a Groucho mask with cigar, Judge Ellis in an oversized red polka-dot bow tie, and Judge Smith in what I can characterize only as a goofy black hat.

Was that a woman's blond fright wig? If so, Judge Rakoff can kiss any elevation hopes good-bye. Senator Brownback opposes all judicial nominees who have appeared in drag.

Highlight: A musical shoutout to Underneath Their Robes! The patter leading up to the song was about changes in the courthouse under the new chief judge. One of them was (I'm paraphrasing slightly), "I get all my case info from www.underneaththeirrobes.com."

Less a joke than a name check, but it suggests that Judge Rakoff is a fan.

Interestingly enough, the new chief judge of the Southern District is none other than Kimba M. Wood -- the reigning Superhottie of the Federal Judiciary, per UTR.

P.S. In case you're wondering, yes, we will be holding a new Superhotties of the Federal Judiciary contest. Look for it in 2007.

Over at Bench Memos, Ed Whelan -- one of our favorite commentators on matters judicial -- provides a great account of Justice Antonin Scalia's recent visit to his alma mater, Harvard Law School. Here's an excerpt:

The dinner that Harvard Law School dean Elena Kagan hosted on Wednesday evening to honor the 20th anniversary of Justice Scalia’s appointment to the Supreme Court was a delightful event, far exceeding my hopeful expectations.

In her own remarks honoring Justice Scalia, Dean Kagan was eloquent, warm-spirited, insightful, and very amusing. She presented Justice Scalia with a letter from Chief Justice Roberts congratulating him on reaching the “midpoint” (or some similar term) of his service on the Court. With wonderfully apt remarks, she also gave him, as a memento of the dinner (which featured salmon as the main course), the framed original of a humorous letter from the great Justice Joseph Story offering thanks for a gift of salmon. The celebratory remarks of professors Charles Fried, Laurence Tribe, and John Manning were likewise excellent.

Read the full report here. As Whelan notes, the welcome extended to Justice Scalia in Cambridge -- by law school dean hottie Elena Kagan -- was notably warmer than the somewhat chilly reception accorded to Nino in New Haven.

Harvard Law School Celebration of Justice Scalia [Bench Memos on National Review Online]

Earlier: An Addendum on Nino in New Haven

Last week, an investiture ceremony was held for Judge Neil Gorsuch, recently confirmed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. And it was a star-studded affair. From the Denver Post:

Seven-year-old Emma and 5-year-old Belinda helped their father, Neil Gorsuch, into his judge's robes Monday after the newly appointed 10th Circuit Court judge was sworn in.

Munching on cookies after the formal ceremony, Emma said she thought it "was nice."

Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, who was in Denver to administer the oath, spoke directly to the little girls before Gorsuch raised his right hand. "He's doing it to remind all of us that the first obligation any American has is to defend and protect the Constitution of the United States," he said.

Justice Kennedy's pedagogical impulse is admirable. We suspect, however, that Emma and Belinda were thinking more about cookies than the Constitution.

Some supplementary coverage, from an ATL tipster:

The entire en banc 10th Circuit was present. Justice Kennedy administered the oath. Attorney General Gonzales read the commission. Both Colorado Senators made remarks, as did Mark Hansen of Kellogg Huber (the insanely prestigious appellate shop from which Gorsuch rose). Half of the Justice Department was there: Rachel Brand, Elisebeth Collins Cook, Brett Gerry, Wan Kim, Gregory Katsas, among others.

The Gorsuch clerks showed everyone around Denver and got trashed on consecutive nights. Good times were had by all.

Article III groupies, Judge Neil Gorsuch is one to watch. He's brilliant, he's young, and he's incredibly well-connected. Look for him to rise through the ranks of Supreme Court feeder judges in the years to come -- and, perhaps, to be nominated to the Court himself someday.

(Judge Gorsuch is taking the seat of Judge David Ebel, who has been the Tenth Circuit's resident feeder judge for quite some time now. Guess that's the 10th Circuit's designated "feeder seat.")

Update: Would someone be able to locate and/or send us a good photo of Judge Gorsuch for our files? Our quick Googling didn't produce anything useful.

10th Circuit judge's oath a family affair [Denver Post]

We'd pay a king's ransom for an update of the music video for "Miami." Instead of showing Will Smith frolicking with bikini-clad beauties, the new version would feature Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito, shaking their bon-bons with surgically-enhanced sirens.

If this sounds unlikely, consider: Winter is still weeks away, but Supreme Court justices are already flocking to Miami.

Late last month, Justice Samuel A. Alito paid a visit, to swear in his former clerk, Alex Acosta, as U.S. Attorney. And just last night, Chief Justice John G. Roberts made an appearance, addressing an audience of 3,000 at the University of Miami. He also participated in an interview with Jan Crawford Greenburg of ABC News.

Accounts of the Chief's visit are available from the Miami Herald, ABC News, and our pals at PrawfsBlawg (here and here). We've read 'em all, so you don't have to -- although we do commend them to you, since they're quite interesting.

Chief Justice Roberts spoke at length about how judges should not rule based on their "personal policy preferences," and he expressed support for the separation of powers. Quelle surprise.

But he did share some more fun tidbits as well. Highlights from the write-ups, along with our commentary, after the jump.