Mukasey in Perpective
09erAn undercurrent of the discussion on Attorney General Michael Mukasey’s invitation to speak at commencement seems to be the notion that BCLS has promoted more conservative views under Dean Garvey’s tenure.
Since Dean Garvery’s arrival in 1999, the following individuals have received the Founder’s Medal and spoken at commencement:
2001: Margaret H. Marshall, Chief Justice, MA-SJC (1st female chief justice on the court, and 2nd female on the court)
2002: A. Paul Cellucci, U.S. Ambassador to Canada and former Governor of MA (Double Eagle (BC ‘70, BCLS ‘73))
2003: Stephen Breyer, U.S. Supreme Court Justice
2004: Walter Dellinger, Former Solicitor General of the United States (Aug. ‘96 - Oct. ‘97)
2005: U.S. Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH) (formerly Governor of NH)
2006: Michael S. Greco, President of the American Bar Association (BCLS ‘72)
2007: U.S. Congressman Edward Markey (D-MA) (Double Eagle (BC ‘68, BCLS ‘72)
2008: U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey
Question of the Day: Do you think the selection of commencement speakers in recent years has been biased toward any particular set of values or beliefs? Are those views in accordance with or opposed to Jesuit/Catholic values?
(Ed. Note: This list was complied from the BCLS web site news archives. If any one can fill in the speakers for 1999 and 2000, please contact us or post in the comments.)
Reader Comments (3)
Respectfully, I disagree. There are many ways to look at Mukasey's invitation to speak at commencement. As evidenced by the linked posts from Abovethelaw and some of the comments at yesterday's LSA forum, it is a valid point to ask what Mukasey means in light of BCLS precedent since others have expressed concern. Some of the LSA forum focused on procedure of past commencement speakers selected, while this post looks at the substance.
1990: John F. Kerry '76 - U.S. Senator, MA
1991: John J. Curtin '57 - President, ABA
1992: Archibald Cox - Professor Emeritus, Harvard
1993: Daniel Coquillette - Dean of Boston College Law School
1994: Carol Moseley-Braun - U.S. Senator, Illinois
1995: Drew S. Days III - Solicitor General of the United States
1996: Deval Patrick, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division
1997: Frank M. Coffin - U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit
1998: Bill Richardson - U.S. Representative to the U.N.
1999: John F. Kerry '76 - U.S. Senator, MA
2000: Elaine Jones - NACP Legal Defense Fund
2001:Margaret Marshall - Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, Chief Justice
2002: A. Paul Cellucci, U.S. Ambassador to Canada and former Governor of MA (Double Eagle (BC ‘70, BCLS ‘73))
2003: Stephen Breyer, U.S. Supreme Court Justice
2004: Walter Dellinger, Former Solicitor General of the United States (Aug. ‘96 - Oct. ‘97)
2005: U.S. Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH) (formerly Governor of NH)
2006: Michael S. Greco, President of the American Bar Association (BCLS ‘72)
2007: U.S. Congressman Edward Markey (D-MA) (Double Eagle (BC ‘68, BCLS ‘72)
2008: U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey