Judge and WVSU alumnus who found WVU prof in contempt honored at commencement

CHARLESTON - Last weekend's commencement exercise in Morgantown wasn't the only one shrouded in controversy.

A federal judge who's "unprecedented" decision to bar anyone from aiding in paying a former USA Today reporter and West Virginia University journalism professor's contempt citation was not only the commencement speaker at the state's other land-grant university, but also the recipient of an honorary doctor of laws degree.

Prior to receiving their respective degrees, the nearly 500 graduates from West Virginia State University and West Virginia State Community and Technical College heard from U.S. District Judge for the D.C. Circuit Reggie B. Walton. In the course of remarks, Walton, a native of Donara, Pa., and 1971 graduate from West Virginia State, encouraged his soon-to-be fellow alumni to "keep this nation the great nation it deserves to be."

Shortly following his address, university President Hazo W. Carter Jr. "with high esteem" conferred Walton with an honorary doctor of laws degree.

Earlier this year, Walton, who began serving on the bench in October 2001 following his appointment by President Bush, sparked controversy by holding former USA Today reporter Toni Locy in contempt for not revealing her sources about the FBI's investigation into a former Army scientist's alleged involvement in the 2001 anthrax scare. Steven J. Hatfill, who worked at Army's infectious disease laboratory from 1997 to 1999, was initially identified by former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft as a "person of interest" in the case which followed the Sep. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

For more on this story, go to The West Virginia Record

Photo: U.S. District Judge for the D.C. Circuit Reggie B. Walton (right) speaks with Natnael Alemu following West Virginia State University's commencement Sunday, May 18. Walton, who gave the commencement address, and was conferred with an honorary doctor of laws degree, has been criticized by many First Amendment advocates for his "unprecedented" decision to bar anyone from assisting in paying the contempt citation he issued to WVU journalism professor Toni Locy for refusing to reveal her sources in stories she wrote while at USA Today regarding the 2001 anthrax scare.