Chief Justice Roberts Announces Retirement of Supreme Court Librarian Judy Gaskell

On the last day of the SCOTUS term Chief Justice Roberts announced yesterday:

”The Court also notes today that the Court’s Librarian, Judith Gaskell, has announced her retirement. She will be leaving us before we reconvene in the fall. Ms. Gaskell has served as the Court’s Librarian since 2003. In the earliest years, the Court did not have its own Library. Members of the Court used their own personal collections or borrowed books from the Library of Congress or other sources. Today, the Librarian manages the Court’s splendid collection of more than 500,000 volumes, directs a staff of 28, and provides irreplaceable research in support of our work. The Court thanks you, Ms. Gaskell, for your dedicated service, and we wish you well in your retirement.”

The LLB Connection to Judy Gaskell's Long and Distinquished Career. I first met Judy in 1978 when she was a reference librarian at the University of Chicago Law School Library and I was a newbie library school student with a part-time gig in the Law Library's cataloging department. In 1979, you might say I worked for Judy because I added a second part-time job there as a reference intern. Judy was a big influence on my decision to become a law librarian specializing in legal reference and research. Jeez, that was over 30 years ago.

LLB's co-editor Mark Giangrande also worked for Judy. As director of the DePaul University Law Library, Judy hired Mark to work reference. I can still remember when Mark told me Judy had accepted the appoinment as Supreme Court Librarian. It's hard to imagine that was back in 2003. Time passes by so quickly.

Mark and I are indebted to Judy and we both wish her well in her retirement. [JH]

I would like to add to Joe's message that I had known Judy for some time before she hired me at DePaul.  I remember her tenure here as a Director with a light touch.   Judy directed the Library by handling the academic work and keeping any law school politics away from our day to day operations and services.  In her approximately 20 year career at DePaul she allowed library staff to do the work they were hired to do without a lot of micromanaging. I can't say that for some of the other Directors with whom I have worked.  It may surprise a reader to know that the DePaul College of Law Library has a low staff turnover.  Many of us hired by Judy are still here, some with tenures as long or longer than hers.  When Judy left for the Supreme Court we showed our appreciation for her work with us by hanging her portrait in the Library reference stacks.  Thanks for everything through the years.  Enjoy your retirement.  [MG]