Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore spoke March 21 at the Law School’s “The Future of Environmental Protection” conference – an event that was not open to the public or media.

Gore’s speech was part of the 17th Annual National Association of Environmental Law Societies Conference. Other recent Law School guests including Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, have also been closed to the media.

“While we were prepared to accommodate media,” said Claire Duggan, assistant director for Public Relations for the school, “as per (Gore) and his team’s request, we were asked to have it closed to the media.”

“This has been the case at his speeches elsewhere in the country,” she added.

During the Law School’s annual Moot Court finals, the law school worked to invite several members of the campus media even though the guest judges, including Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, initially requested not to have media attend, Duggan said.

“We always aim to have media attend events at the Law School. However, our goals to have coverage come second to our guests’ wishes,” she said.