Visiting Duquesne University for the first time yesterday, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. said it was like catching up with an old friend.

	Bill Wade, Post-Gazette U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., left, with his wife, Martha-Ann, is greeted yesterday at Duquesne University, where Judge Alito was awarded the Carol Los Mansmann Award for Distinguished Public Service. Click photo for larger image.

Though he'd never been to the school before, he had heard much about it from the late 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Carol Los Mansmann.

And it was because of her that the country's newest Supreme Court justice was there.

Justice Alito, who spent 12 years on the 3rd Circuit Court with Judge Mansmann, was presented with the Carol Los Mansmann Award for Distinguished Public Service -- only the second time it's been given. The first, in 2001, went to former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

"Seldom have I felt so embarrassed and so unworthy as I do today," he said, in accepting the honor.

Though the lengthy program spent equal time remembering Judge Mansmann's life and career and that of Justice Alito, he chose to speak only about her and her vast abilities as a judge.

"Carol was the quintessential superwoman. She could do it all," he said.

She was always exquisitely prepared to hear arguments on the court, he said, and was the most efficient judge he's ever known.

In his first days on the bench, Judge Mansmann welcomed him, Justice Alito said, and sent him a package, filled with forms, flow charts and operational forms to help his work go more smoothly. He added that he still uses some of the tips she provided.

Judge Mansmann, a graduate of Duquesne School of Law, died from breast cancer in 2002. She was the first female federal district court judge in Pennsylvania, appointed by President Reagan.

"Carol's legal career was meteoric," Justice Alito said, noting that she argued three cases in front of the Supreme Court before she was 30.

More than 800 people attended the ceremony, including judicial dignitaries from all levels. Eleven members of the current 3rd Circuit Court were there, as well as most of the federal judges from the Western District of Pennsylvania and members of the state Supreme and Commonwealth courts.

Included in the afternoon's program were a video introduction from U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, as well as a video greeting from Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, who once served as Justice Alito's first assistant U.S. attorney in New Jersey.

Despite the attention given him, Justice Alito insisted on speaking only about Judge Mansmann.

"I never heard her say anything that wasn't positive and optimistic," Justice Alito said. "That was her spirit."