Scalia Turns Journalists Away From Speech

By: GINA HOLLAND, Associated Press Writer (AP) The real Antonin Scalia seems to be back.

The Supreme Court justice mugged for cameras and gave unusual interviews in New York, where he led the Columbus Day parade. Back in Washington, however, he turned journalists away from his speech to life insurance executives and talked about gossip-seeking reporters during a court argument about free speech rights.

Scalia, the court's most outspoken and colorful member, is well known for his animosity toward cameras and run-ins with reporters.

"He doesn't seem to be very fond of them," said Dennis Hutchinson, a law professor at the University of Chicago.

He bars television cameras from most of his events, even a 2003 ceremony in Ohio honoring him for supporting free speech.

On Tuesday, the court said Scalia did not want media coverage of his remarks to the American Council of Life Insurers, according to the group. The trade association for the life insurance industry had promoted the luncheon speech at its annual conference in a press release and made arrangements for reporters to attend.

An Associated Press reporter was turned away at the door.

Scalia had apologized last year after a deputy federal marshal demanded that an AP reporter and another journalist erase recordings of the justice's remarks in Mississippi.

Life insurance companies are often involved in cases at the Supreme Court. But Scalia apparently was speaking to the group about his approach to interpreting the Constitution, not insurance issues.

The group's president is Frank Keating, the former Oklahoma governor who also has led a Roman Catholic watchdog panel on clergy abuse. Keating stepped down from that panel in 2003 after Catholic officials criticized him for likening church leadership to the Mafia.

Scalia is Roman Catholic and the father of a priest.