By MATT CHANDLER
mchandler@bizjournals.com | 716-541-1654

U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Roberts Jr. is scheduled to speak at Canisius College's Koessler Athletic Center at 7:30 p.m., Oct. 19.

Roberts, a native of Buffalo, was nominated as chief justice by President George W. Bush and took office Sept. 29, 2005.

Bob Klump, director of the Raichle Pre-Law Center at Canisius, said the Roberts speech is an opportunity to bring a powerful message not only to students but to the public, as one of their own returns home to share his experiences as chief judge of the highest court in the land.

"Already, the fact that he is coming has created excitement among the students. I've noticed in my classes an uptick in interest in what otherwise would be the musty, dusty Supreme Court precedence that we study," he said.

"The fact that the chief justice is coming makes the constitutional law courses seem a lot more relevant."

The lecture series has an established track record, according to Klump.

"The Raichle Lecture Series began in 1983 and we have had a number of Supreme Court justices speak, including Rehnquist back in 1989," he said.

"We've had Scalia, White and Justice Ginsberg before she was on the Supreme Court," he added.

Roberts' speech will stray from the traditional model used in previous Raichle events, according to Klump.

While most speakers offer a keynote-length address followed by a modest question-and-answer session with the audience, Roberts has a different agenda for his upcoming visit.

"As we understand it, the chief justice's prepared remarks will be relatively limited and the majority of the evening will be devoted to Q&A," Klump said.

"He likes responding to questions, particularly ones from students."

Roberts will be speaking as part of the Frank G. Raichle Lecture Series.

His speech, "A Conversation with the Chief Justice," is free and open to the public.

Seating is limited and the doors open at 6 p.m.

For information, visit www.canisius.edu.