Rehnquist avoids protesters at law college

Katherine K. Gardiner Arizona Daily Wildcat First-year law student Patrick Dooley (right) and second-year law student Doug Welch protest some of United States Chief Justice William Rehnquist's controversial rulings, prior to the Justice's arrival at the Law College yesterday.

A dozen protesters picketed on the west side of the James E. Rogers Law Center and held signs denouncing Rehnquist's more controversial rulings. A flyer publicizing the demonstration stated that "Rehnquist and his legacy of rulings have slashed the rights of all people of color, women, gays and lesbians, inmates, and working people."

Rehnquist has taught a two-week, one-unit judicial history course at the University of Arizona each spring for several years.

Protesters have made their appearance at the Law Center an annual event.

Rehnquist, who was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1972 by President Nixon, is known for his far-right judicial stance.

"I don't think he has done his job as a (U.S.) Supreme Court justice," said Doug Welch, a second-year law student. "He is supposed to make sure that everyone gets justice, but he doesn't support rights for blacks, women, gays and other minorities."

Rehnquist, who avoided the protesters while entering Law Center Room 146, said nothing and did not appear to be affected by the group.

"Rehnquist is well-schooled at walking past protesters, but if we are silent it would be letting him know that nobody cares," said Claudia Ellquist, a UA law school alumna and member of the National Organization for Women and the Coalition Against the Death Penalty.