U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, one of the most conservative justices in the history of the country’s highest court, died Saturday. He was 79.
Scalia’s family said he died in his sleep while on a visit to Texas. Scalia has been long regarded as one of the leading voices of the conservative movement. Scalia attended Harvard Law School, worked in the Nixon and Ford administrations and then served as a federal judge. In 1986, President Ronald Reagan named Scalia to the U.S. Supreme Court to replace William Rehnquist who was being promoted from associate justice to chief justice.
It was not Scalia’s opinions, necessarily, which won the applause of conservatives across the country, but how he expressed himself. Scalia was celebrated for his wit and impassioned writing skills. He frequently used references to classic literary works like William Shakespeare's plays but he easily weaved modern pop culture like "Sesame Street" into his opinions as well.
Scalia supported original intent theories, insisting that trying to understand the words and concepts in the U.S. Constitution as the Founding Fathers did remained important in the modern legal system. During his decades on the Supreme Court, he was a firm supporter of gun rights and the death penalty while arguing there is no constitutional right to abortion.
With Scalia’s death comes a vacancy in the Supreme Court which President Barack Obama will attempt to fill. The stakes will be high because his death occured in a pivotal election year when the GOP hopes to win back the White House. Obama’s selection for Scalia’s replacement will need to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate, where Republicans currently hold the majority.
Republicans and conservatives weighed in on the news Saturday.
"He was a brave defender of the law, who rightfully based his decisions on fact, the Constitution, and the founding principles of the country he served so honorably," said Florida Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera who is runnng for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate. "Justice Scalia was never afraid to stand up for what was right, and his opinions encouraged our nation's courts to return to their role of defending our Constitution."
"Our nation suffers a tremendous loss today with the passing of Justice Antonin Scalia," said businessman and veteran Todd Wilcox who is also running for the Republican nomination in the U.S. Senate race. "He was a true defender of our Constitution as written by the Founders of this great nation. His opposition to legislating from the bench preserved liberty and freedom for each and every American.
U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., who is running for the Republican nomination in the U.S. Senate race and sits on the House Judiciary Committee, also weighed in on Saturday night.
"Justice Antonin Scalia is one of the most consequential Supreme Court justices in American history and a man who ardently defended the Constitution his entire life,” DeSantis said. “By insisting that courts apply the Constitution as written, rather than as judges would like it to read, Justice Scalia vindicated the rule of law and safeguarded the prerogative of the people to govern themselves. My thoughts and prayers go out to Maureen and the Scalia family."
“I am deeply saddened by the passing of United States Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia,” said Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi. “Justice Scalia, one of the greatest legal minds of the last 100 years, passionately upheld the rule of law and served honorably on our nation’s highest court. He leaves behind a legacy of just service to our judiciary and loyalty for the U.S. Constitution. As our country mourns this great loss, my prayers are with his family."
Democrats, too, expressed their sympathy.
U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., offered her condolences after Scalia had died, but the chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) also urged Obama to name a replacement in his final 11 months in the White House.
Some Republicans, including U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassely, R-Iowa, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, are urging Scalia's replacement not be named until the new president takes over early next year. Wasserman Schultz urged Obama to go ahead and name a Scalia successor himself. Media reports note that Obama intends to make a nomination.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of senior Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia,” Wasserman Schultz said Saturday night. “There is no question that Justice Scalia lived a life of loyal service to one of the most consequential institutions our Founding Fathers created. He understood as well as any public servant that a full and functioning Supreme Court is essential to the survival of our nation of laws, and he worked dutifully to fulfill his role in that process. And as we mourn the loss of a true public servant, we would also do well to ensure that the consequential questions of our time not be left hanging in the balance, twisted by politics, allowing our nation to move forward as our founders intended.”
This is a breaking story. Check back for updates.
Reach reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen. Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
