Seton Hall Dean to Allow Gov. Christie to Speak at Law School Graduation, Despite Alumni and Faculty Protests

Newark Star-Ledger, Seton Hall Law Alumni, Faculty Pushed to Remove Gov. Christie as Graduation Speaker:

Gov. Chris Christie will remain the speaker at Seton Hall University School of Law’s graduation ceremony later this month despite a push by some alumni and professors to rescind the invitation, school officials said today.

The law school faculty discussed canceling Christie’s speech to protest his recent decision to not reappoint Associate Justice John Wallace to the state Supreme Court, Seton Hall law school Dean Patrick Hobbs said.

Professors debated the idea during a faculty meeting at the Newark law school on Friday. But Hobbs ultimately decided to allow Christie — a Seton Hall law school alumnus — to speak at the May 28 ceremony. ...

Earlier this month, Christie said he would replace Wallace, the only African-American on the court, at the end of his term because he thought the court overstepped its bounds in recent rulings. The announcement angered many Democrats and legal scholars who said the governor is breaking state tradition and interfering with the court’s independence by not renominating a qualified justice. ...

Christopher Adams, an attorney and Seton Hall alumnus, proposed "disinviting" Christie in a four-page letter to Hobbs last week. ...  Hobbs, the law school dean, said he urged the faculty to remember graduation day should be about the students, not politics.

(Hat Tip: Inside Higher Ed.)