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Jersey Pride Displayed as Alito Commemorated as 110th Supreme Court Justice

New Jersey and Trenton native son, Samuel Alito (left), thanks Kevin J. Carlin, Esq. (right) upon receiving a commemorative baseball hat marked with the number "110". Alito is only the 110th Justice appointed to the United States Supreme Court. Justice Alito was an honoree at the annual Red Mass held at the Marriott Courtyard at Lafayette Yard in Trenton.

Local pride was evident at the recent Red Mass Celebration of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton where New Jersey native and recently appointed Supreme Court Justice Sam Alito was an honoree.  Hamilton attorney Kevin J. Carlin was on hand to present Justice Alito with a commemorative baseball hat embroidered with “110″ to highlight Alito as the 110th Supreme Court Justice.

“I was very mindful of the historical significance that Justice Alito is only the 110th justice appointed to the Supreme Court since our Constitution was adopted,” said Carlin.  “To commemorate this honor I presen

ted him baseball hats for him to wear, to keep in chambers and, perhaps one day, to donate to the Smithsonian Museum.”

The Red Mass is an annual religious celebration of the Catholic Church for judges, prosecutors, attorneys, law school professors and students. The Mass requests God’s guidance for all who seek justice, and offers the opportunity to reflect on what Catholics believe is the God-given power, and responsibility, of all in the legal profession. The Mass was offered by Bishop John M. Smith and a host of other priests.

Carlin continued, “I was surprised and deeply honored when Justice Alito wrote me the following week to thank me for the unique mementos, and invited me to come visit him in chambers while the Court was in session.”

The June 24 celebration was followed by the St. Thomas More Society dinner at the Trenton Marriott at Lafayette Yard.  St. Thomas More was canonized in 1935 and is the Patron Saint of Lawyers.

He rose to Lord Chancellor under King Henry VIII but resigned when he disagreed with the King on matters of marriage and the supremacy of the Pope. After a career later spent largely in defense of the Church, and an incarceration in the Tower of London, More was beheaded in 1535.  He is well remembered for proclaiming at the time of his death that he was “the King’s good servant–but God’s first.”

The Hightstown embroidery, custom apparel and screen printing company of RKM Enterprises made the hats on short turnaround request for Mr. Carlin. The 21 year old company is headed by Dave Babcock and managed by his daughter, Kim LeMond. The photograph on this page hangs prominently in their shop today. Babcock and LeMond reported “our shop gets plenty of comments and questions about the photo and we are proud to have made this historical footnote.  We can’t wait for the opportunity to supply the hats to the 111th justice!”

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