Penn law schools hires Specter

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- The University of Pennsylvania says it has hired former Sen. Arlen Specter as an adjunct faculty member beginning this fall.

The former lawmaker will teach an upper-level course at Penn's law school on the relationship between Congress and the U.S. Supreme Court, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Wednesday.

The course will focus on the separation of powers and the confirmation process.

Officials at Penn indicated they were happy to land the longest-serving U.S. senator in the state's history.

"Arlen's knowledge of the inner workings of government and lawmaking is second to none," said Dean Michael A. Fitts of the law school. "The insight he brings from his career in public service, particularly as a leader on judicial issues, will be invaluable to our students as they prepare for careers in law."

Specter said he will also remain open to teaching at Philadelphia University, which announced in July that it was building a library to house his papers and celebrate his work.