U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy will be on campus Thursday to teach two classes and participate in a fireside chat as part of the OU College of Law’s centennial celebration.

“There are 180 law schools in America and very few have Supreme Court justices come to them, especially as far away and as difficult to get to as Oklahoma,” said Andrew Coats, dean of the College of Law.

Coats said it is important law students have exposure to Kennedy and are able to hear him speak.

“These young people will understand and learn to love the majesty of the law,” he said. “Having a justice of the Supreme Court will inspire them.”

Kennedy will teach Constitutional Law to first-year law students at 10 a.m. in the Dick Bell Courtroom.

“I may never be in the same room as a Supreme Court justice ever again,” said first-year law student Jade McCarthy-Caldwell. “We read about him, and now we get to meet him.”

At 3 p.m., Kennedy will speak with second and third-year law students in the Dick Bell Courtroom and answer questions from the audience.

“We’re very excited, and it’s an incredible opportunity,” said first-year law student Jenna McCarthy.

Kennedy will participate in a fireside chat hosted by OU President David Boren during a 7 p.m. invitation-only, centennial dinner at the Embassy Suites Conference Center. Law school alumni, faculty, staff and law students will attend the dinner, Coats said.

“It is truly an exciting time for us as we celebrate the centennial of the law school, and to have a justice from the Supreme Court celebrate with us is awesome,” he said.

Students attending sessions at the law school are asked to arrive at least 30 minutes early for security clearance, Coats said. Backpacks and electronic devices will not be allowed in the courtroom.

“Justice Kennedy has some star power and everyone has a feeling of excitement about the whole centennial celebration,” he said.

Kennedy received his law degree from Harvard University in 1961 and was nominated to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in 1975 by President Gerald Ford and to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1988 by President Ronald Reagan.

“It’s a high point in my time as dean,” Coats said. “Having someone like Anthony Kennedy is a real tribute to college and what we’ve been able to accomplish.”