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[Xie Lin]

Justice Antonin Scalia, Who Led a Conservative Renaissance on the Supreme Court, Is Dead at 79

"Justice Antonin Scalia, whose transformative legal theories, vivid writing and outsize personality made him a leader of a conservative intellectual renaissance in his three decades on the Supreme Court, was found dead on Saturday at a resort in West Texas, according to a statement from Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. He was 79.

“He was an extraordinary individual and jurist, admired and treasured by his colleagues,” Chief Justice Roberts said. “His passing is a great loss to the Court and the country he so loyally served.

The cause of death was not immediately released.

Justice Scalia began his service on the court as an outsider known for caustic dissents that alienated even potential allies. But his theories, initially viewed as idiosyncratic, gradually took hold, and not only on the right and not only in the courts.

He was, Judge Richard A. Posner wrote in The New Republic in 2011, “the most influential justice of the last quarter century.” Justice Scalia was a champion of originalism, the theory of constitutional interpretation that seeks to apply the understanding of those who drafted and ratified the Constitution. In Justice Scalia’s hands, originalism generally led to outcomes that pleased political conservatives, but not always. His approach was helpful to criminal defendants in cases involving sentencing and the cross-examination of witnesses."

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/14/us/antonin-scalia-death.html?_r=0

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[spiral78]

R.I.P. Scalia, and gratitude for your many years of service to the nation.

Thinking ahead, though (as I see the political machine already is) I can't imagine a more impactful event on the heart of the US political system at this particular time. A perfect storm - with VERY high-stakes outcomes!

[Shanghai Noon]

How do you like the constitution now, Ted Cruz?

[spiral78]

Oh, they're all whining that the Dems should do what the Republicans would NEVER do - wait for a new president before appointing a new justice.

[AGoodStory]

[spiral78]

[johnslat]

On the news this morning, I heard Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio say. "The Constitution is NOT a living, breathing document."

Presumably, that means he considers it to be dead.

Regards,
John

[spiral78]

I thought they all believed that the Christian bible is a living, breathing document - I'm surprised that they would have a different slant on the nature of the Constitution. Well, unless it's highly expedient at the moment

[gregory999]

[johnslat]

Oh, good - that means that the Second Amendment's "right to bear arms" can refer only to black-powder, muzzle-loading muskets.

Regards,
John

[AGoodStory]

[steki47]

Scalia was quite the curmudgeon. A few sample quotes:

[johnslat]

"Crazy quotes"

I'd say what's mentioned in the link to the piece sums it up nicely.

Regards,
John

[gregory999]

Here’s the man 2 of America’s most prominent legal experts believe Obama would like to make the next Supreme Court justice:
http://www.businessinsider.sg/who-would-obama-want-to-replace-scalia-2016-2/#.VsI1fGatPv8

Obama's nominee would be the first Asian-American on the high court.

It seems America is improving with regard of race equality!
Barack Obama is the first African-American President of the United States.

[johnslat]

As a side-benefit, when (not if) a nomination is made (probably of a minority group jurist or a woman or both) and the Republicans in Congress block it, well, that's likely not going to sit well with all the voters of whatever group the jurist if part of.

Regards,
John