Justice Scalia talks in Fort Smith today

His is 1st lecture on Marshals Service

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.

FORT SMITH -- U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia will appear in Fort Smith today to speak at the inaugural program of a three-year series of lectures on the U.S. Marshals Service's history with each branch of the federal government.

Scalia will talk about the judiciary's relationship with the Marshals Service at the Winthrop Paul Rockefeller Distinguished Lecture Series hosted by the U.S. Marshals Museum to bring leaders from the executive, judicial and legislative branches to Fort Smith. The series is funded by a $100,000 grant from Rockefeller's widow, Lisenne Rockefeller.

Museum President Jim Dunn said Wednesday that more than 2,500 people have confirmed they plan to attend the lecture. Half of those in attendance will be schoolchildren bused in from Fort Smith and areas as far away as Ozark and Prairie Grove.

Dunn said one of the chief purposes of the yet-to-be-built museum is to educate people about civics and government.

"Justice Scalia talking about issues relating to the federal judiciary, the Supreme Court and constitutional issues is a giant step for us in helping inform the American people what our system of government is all about," he said.

The lecture is to begin at 1 p.m. in the Fort Smith Convention Center Lecture Halls B and C at 55 S. Seventh St.in downtown Fort Smith. Doors open at 11:30 a.m.

Also on the program will be U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson of the Eastern District of Virginia, who was appointed to the federal bench in 2002 by President George W. Bush. He served as director of the U.S. Marshals Service in 1992 and 1993, according to the Judgepedia website.

Dunn said Hudson will introduce Scalia and spend some time talking about his experience with the Marshals Service.

"He, of course, is very supportive of the [Marshals Museum] project and understands more than anyone the importance of the Marshals Service and its relationship to the federal judiciary," he said.

A small luncheon will precede the lecture. A reception will follow for Scalia and members of the federal judiciary, Dunn said.

He said Scalia and Hudson are published authors and will hold book signings beginning about 2 p.m. at the convention center.

The Marshals Museum is working to raise $50 million to build a 50,000-square-foot Marshals Service national museum on the banks of the Arkansas River near downtown Fort Smith. So far, the museum has raised about $20 million, and officials plan to begin construction next year with the opening expected in 2017.

Metro on 02/26/2015

Upcoming Events