CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N.Y. — Judge Brett Kavanaugh was nominated Monday night to serve as the next justice of the United States Supreme Court. If confirmed by the Senate, he would replace long-time Justice Anthony Kennedy. 

"And you get through the awe factor, which is real. Justice Kennedy, very engaging. Very approachable," said Gregory Peterson, co-founder of the Robert H. Jackson Center in Jamestown.

Peterson met Kennedy at a Supreme Court event and twice at Chautauqua Institution, when the justice lectured in 2009 and 2013. 

"Having him here was an honor," Peterson said. "The fact that justices, who don't have to speak anywhere, at any time, for anybody, chose to actually do so. Having mentioned his admiration for Robert Jackson and how he wrote and how he thought certainly gave us here at the center a sense of pride," said Peterson.

Jackson was an associate justice on the Supreme Court from 1941 through 1954 after serving as Attorney General for more than a year and a half.

Though Kennedy has never been to the Jackson Center, he has certainly left his mark. He and his colleagues each autographed a book about Jackson on display.

"Personally, I would not have anticipated so much activity, so much relevancy that has arisen in the works of Robert Jackson, much of which is here," said Peterson.

Kennedy also referenced Jackson during his confirmation hearings in 1987.

"I think it was Mr. Justice Jackson that said judges are not there because they're infallible, they're infallible because they're there," Kennedy said at the time.

With Kennedy retiring, Peterson is hopeful the justice will follow in the footsteps of his law clerks and visit.

"In my correspondence with him, which was as late as last year, he never said no," said Peterson.

Kennedy will step down from the high court at the end of the month.