DePaul librarian gets court position Court post

CHICAGO -- When a lawyer argues in front of the Supreme Court, he or she must stand up in front of some of the most intimidating legal minds on the planet.\nImagine having to face some of the same people for a job interview.\nJudith Gaskell did, evidently impressing Justices Antonin Scalia and Ruth Bader Ginsberg. Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist introduced her last week as the 10th librarian in the history of the Supreme Court.\n"It was a little bit intimidating," said Gaskell, 57, a DePaul University assistant professor and director of the College of Law's Rinn Library. But she said Scalia and Ginsberg made her feel at ease.\nGaskell replaces Shelley Dowling, who retired after nearly 15 years.\n"I'm delighted, I'm ecstatic, I'm very happy to be going to such a wonderful position," Gaskell said Wednesday.\nGaskell earned a law degree from DePaul in 1980, so she can appreciate working at the nerve- center of the country's legal community.\n"That's part of the mystique -- you're right there where the law is being made, the law of the land," Gaskell said.\nBefore facing Scalia and Ginsberg, she had to interview with the court staff.\n"I was really impressed with the people who work there, they're so happy and so dedicated," Gaskell said. "I really felt comfortable."\nGaskell will be leaving DePaul on July 25. She's been at the university for 20 years.\n"It's one of my deepest regrets," Gaskell said. "DePaul is a wonderful place, Chicago is a wonderful place -- I've lived here over 30 years."\nGaskell is perfectly suited for the position, said Diana White, dean of students at DePaul.\n"Judy is such a serene person, nothing fazes her," White said. "We will miss her so much, but what a phenomenal opportunity -- you can't beat it."\nAt the Supreme Court, Gaskell will be responsible for managing more than 450,000 volumes and a staff of 25 employees. She is expected to start in August.\nBefore her career at DePaul, Gaskell worked at the University of Chicago Law Library for six years. She also served as the librarian in the law firm of Sonnenschein, Carlin, Nath and Rosenthal in Chicago from 1974 to 1976.\nGaskell earned her bachelor's degree at Carleton College in 1967 and her master's degree at the University of Chicago in 1975.