U.S. Supreme Court Notebook

Supreme Court justice christens Navy ship in Mobile

MOBILE, Ala. (AP) - U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor was on hand in Mobile, Alabama, to christen a U.S. Navy ship.

Al.com reports that the USNS Puerto Rico was christened Saturday at the Austal USA shipyard, where it was built. Sotomayor broke a bottle of sparkling wine across the bow, a Navy tradition.

The Puerto Rico was the 11th of 12 Expeditionary Fast Transport ships to be built by Austal under a $1.9 billion contract.

"This ship honors the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the contributions Puerto Ricans have made to our nation and Navy and Marine Corps team," Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer said in a press release. "USNS Puerto Rico will provide our commanders high-speed sealift mobility and agility and I am thankful for this ship, her crew, and our industrial force teammates whose service makes this great ship possible."

The Navy says the ship is the first active ship in naval service to honor Puerto Rico. Congresswoman Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon, resident commissioner of Puerto Rico, served as the main speaker for the ceremony.

The Navy says ships of this kind are meant to transport 600 short tons of military cargo 1,200 nautical miles at an average speed of 35 knots.

Retired Justice Kennedy to speak at Virginia law school

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) - Retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy will speak about his legacy on the high court at the University of Virginia School of Law this week.

Kennedy will be interviewed by financier-philanthropist David Rubenstein Friday during an inaugural event for the new Karsh Center for Law and Democracy at the law school.

The interview will be recorded for national broadcast on PBS stations. It will also air as a stand-alone episode of "The David Rubenstein Show," a Bloomberg series focused on conversations about leadership.

Seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis to members of the law school community.

The 82-year-old Kennedy announced his retirement at the end of the Supreme Court's last term. He served on the court for 30 years.

Published: Tue, Nov 13, 2018