Honoring Justice Antonin Scalia: America’s Conservative Voice in the US Supreme Court
Without a doubt, Associate Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia left a lasting impression on American jurisprudence. The 79-year-old jurist passed away Saturday in a Texas ranch.
According to a report by Chicago Tribune, his death indicated "no signs of foul play". His physician and the investigators who looked into the matter concluded that he died of natural causes. No private autopsy was needed as per his family's request.
As soon as his death hit the news, supporters, critics, and colleagues expressed their condolences and paid respect to the man who contributed much to the shaping of US jurisprudence.
"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. We extend our deepest condolences to his wife Maureen and his family," remarked Chief Justice John Roberts as quoted by the Wall Street Journal.
A highly controversial figure, Scalia was both loved and hated for his caustic and witty statements that often got him in the headlines on issues that divide America. In his 30-year tenure as member of the country's highest court, Justice Scalia had been the conservatives' voice in the Supreme Court especially on issues with pending rulings- abortion, affirmative action, political redistricting, and labor unionism.
His death came at an extremely inauspicious timing ahead of the November elections that will pit Republicans and Democrats into a partisan-fueled battle over filling the vacancy.
Despite their clashing worldviews on a number of issues, President Obama had been quick to praise Scalia's three decades of service but also indicated plans of nominating a successor saying that he is going to fulfill his "constitutional responsibility to nominate a successor in due time" as mentioned in a report by the National Post.
