Why did Antonin Scalia regularly speak to the Federalist Society?
Antonin Scalia regularly spoke at gatherings of the Federalist Society because he was a prominent figure in the conservative legal movement, which the organization represents and promotes.12
Scalia was a key participant in the society from its early years, having provided advice and involvement during his time as a law professor at the University of Chicago. His judicial philosophy—specifically his commitment to originalism and textualism—aligned closely with the society’s mission to advance conservative legal scholarship and challenge what it viewed as orthodox liberal ideology in the legal academy. By speaking at these events, Scalia engaged with a network of conservative and libertarian legal professionals, effectively serving as a leading voice for the movement he helped shape.21