Some UA law students are looking forward to hearing Judge Lance Ito speak at their graduation commencement Saturday, but others feel their college's image will be tarnished by the appearance of the California Superior Court judge.

Nancy Olmstead, who is graduating this weekend from the College of Law, said she has mixed feelings about Ito speaking at the commencement and said it is "a real controversy over here."

"The entertainment person in me thinks it's wicked cool," Olmstead said. "The lawyer person in me is not sure he's a credit to the profession."

Olmstead said Ito was "made out to be a buffoon" by certain television programs such as "The Tonight Show's 'Dancing Itos'" and impersonations done on "Saturday Night Live."

Ito, 45, will not be paid for his appearance at the University of Arizona, but his transportation and lodging will be paid for by the College of Law.

Joel Seligman, dean for the College of Law, said he has not seen a copy of Ito's presentation, however, in telephone conversations with the judge, he was told Ito will be speaking about racial tolerance and "the cult of celebrity," which Seligman said has distorted our justice system.

Seligman said he thinks trials such as O.J. Simpson's have created a media frenzy and that Ito is greatly concerned about this issue. He also said his department chose Ito because of his background. Ito's parents, both teachers, met in a Japanese American internment camp in Wyoming during World War II.

A native of Los Angeles, Ito completed his undergraduate studies at UCLA and graduated with a law degree from the University of California at Berkeley.

Seligman said Ito's experiences will provide an inspiring viewpoint. Student response has been mostly positive, Seligman said.

Mike Leal, graduating law student, said he is looking forward to hearing Ito speak at Saturday's commencement because he heard Ito has a great sense of humor.

"Although he may not have done the best job possible, he did the best he could," Leal said.

Demitri Downing, first-year law student said, "As a person, he is as qualified as any judge to speak at a commencement."

Downing said some of his fellow law students are failing to look at the "bigger picture" - the recognition that the law school gets from drawing such a prominent figure from the legal community.

However, Seligman said that some students think the event will bring excessive media coverage to the law school.

"It seems like a grab for attention," said Ken Miller, first year law student. "Hopefully when I graduate, they will pick someone esteemed for their legal background and not because they're currently fashionable."