Justice Antonin Scalia Found Dead

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Category: World News

Published on Saturday, 13 February 2016 21:36

Written by Janet Walker

Associate Justice Antonin Scalia, the longest serving member of the United States Supreme Court and a staunch voice of conservatism, was found dead on Saturday morning while vacationing on a Texas Ranch. He was 79.

Scalia’s death was confirmed by Chief Justice John Robert who said, "I am saddened to report that our colleague Justice Antonin Scalia has passed away. He was an extraordinary individual and jurist, admired and treasured by his colleagues. His passing is a great loss to the court and the country he so loyally served."

The death of the bastion of conservativism leaves the court an even 4-4 split and in limbo. Scalia was known to be engaging and staunchly Catholic and sought to have Roe V. Wade struck down. A traditionalist he believed in equality and opposed affirmative action and other polices that treated minorities as special groups. His constitutional interpretation was based on originalism which translates to exact interpretation within the mindset of the founders.

Antonin Gregory Scalia, a devout Catholic, born March 11, 1936, in Trenton New Jersey, became the first Italian-American to be nominated for the Supreme Court.

A graduate of Georgetown University and Harvard University, Scalia ended his time at the Ivy League University with two highly coveted honors, his wife, Maureen, whom he met on a blind date, and his law degree.

Appointed by President Ronald Reagan, Scalia was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on August 5, 1982 and sworn in on August 17, 1982.

Scalia, it is reported to have enjoyed a full day of quail hunting at the Cibolo Creek Ranch, in Marfa, Texas. He retired to his room after dinner. No reports have surfaced of the Justice indicating he felt ill or in need of medical attention.

A priest was summoned upon discovering the Justice to administer last rites.

Justice Scalia is survived by his wife of 56 years, Maureen, nine children, Ann Forrest, Eugene, John Francis, Catherine Elisabeth, Mary Clare, Paul David, Matthew, Christopher James and Margaret Jane and 28 grandchildren.

This is a developing story.