[LOCKED] OT: Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia Dies of Natural Causes while on Hunting Trip in Texas
He was on a hunting trip in West Texas. He complained of not feeling well Friday evening. It is reported that he passed in his sleep.
Edit: Folks, don't think it needs to be said, but let's remember to avoid the politics. Just wanted to post the news as it's current events and sometimes I first get news from you guys while refreshing the site.
MOD EDIT - a couple people are starting to say things which could lead down the path of politics, so we'll lock it here. I know I'll get flack for this, and if you disagree, you can always find me on Twitter if you've got it and we can talk. - LSA
February 13th, 2016 at 6:00 PM ^
Strom Thurmond famously had a "rule" that no justice could be nominated (or confirmed) in the last 6 months of a presidence. It's obviously not a real rule and this is more than 6 months out, but it's certainly come up before.
February 13th, 2016 at 6:20 PM ^
Without getting into details, there are opinions that will come down by the time the Court concludes the current term, typically by the end of June, that may have a different outcome now that Scalia is deceased due to the political makeup of the Justices.
February 13th, 2016 at 6:54 PM ^
My understanding is that the abortion law in TX will stil stand, because with the SC at 4-4, they don't have the necessary majority to overrule the decision of the appeals court. Same outcome as if Scalia had been there. Not sure about other cases.
February 13th, 2016 at 5:51 PM ^
We'll know once the white smoke flies.
February 13th, 2016 at 6:01 PM ^
It'll be interesting to see how the Senate responds. This would swing the balance, so I'd anticipate many would like to stall until after the election. Ultimately I think it's up to the Republican Senate leadership.
February 13th, 2016 at 5:40 PM ^
February 13th, 2016 at 5:43 PM ^
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February 13th, 2016 at 5:46 PM ^
as long as they can with the hope that they can elect a Republican.
February 13th, 2016 at 5:51 PM ^
February 13th, 2016 at 6:00 PM ^
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February 13th, 2016 at 6:02 PM ^
Maybe not. The Supreme Court is pretty old. This is morbid, but the next term may involve three appointments BESIDES the position formerly filled by Scalia.
February 13th, 2016 at 6:05 PM ^
The Democrats look to be solidifying their gains for a generation if they, as expected, win.
The GOP's civil is letting the Democrats off the hook from suffering from their own disarray.
February 13th, 2016 at 6:10 PM ^
The apostrophe goes where the omitted letters/numbers were.
February 13th, 2016 at 6:39 PM ^
February 13th, 2016 at 5:44 PM ^
Regardless of whether you were conservative or liberal, Scalia's legal ideologies probably shaped your life more directly than any other jurist of the last thirty years. I'm no textualist, but he was one of the sharpest legal minds in history.
February 13th, 2016 at 5:55 PM ^
February 13th, 2016 at 5:57 PM ^
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February 13th, 2016 at 6:03 PM ^
unwilling to compromise, and the worst human being ever.
This is why I detest politics. It's religion without God.
February 13th, 2016 at 6:08 PM ^
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February 13th, 2016 at 6:15 PM ^
This myth that the past was any less vitriolic is just that--a myth. This is how democracies are. It's one giant game of thrones with parties and interest groups fighting for the scepter.Lying, distortion, indoctrination, cynicism, subversion of public institutions...that's politics.
February 13th, 2016 at 6:17 PM ^
February 13th, 2016 at 6:22 PM ^
February 13th, 2016 at 6:31 PM ^
February 13th, 2016 at 6:08 PM ^
February 13th, 2016 at 6:25 PM ^
This is an important point. Scalia more or less chose the party line and then crafted his reasoning. This is not a political point, but a legal one that is apparent if you read his opinions.
February 13th, 2016 at 5:44 PM ^
People have long known that the SC was going to undergo an overhaul with the near-certainty that a Democrat will win the 16' election.His death just speeds the process.
February 13th, 2016 at 6:03 PM ^
It certainly isn't certain that a Dem will be elected president.
February 13th, 2016 at 6:05 PM ^
Near certainty? What the hell are you talking about?
February 13th, 2016 at 6:18 PM ^
February 13th, 2016 at 6:36 PM ^
February 13th, 2016 at 7:13 PM ^
February 13th, 2016 at 6:39 PM ^
but those of us who watch closely know that a whole lot of money is suddenly gravitating toward senate races with all of the Republican establishment candidates doing so poorly. Money, especially corporate money, usually flows in that direction because the Senate is seen as a bulwark against the kind of change that the Dems would push. Dig around at places like Politico; few insiders think that the two current frontrunners stand any real chance. Trump would have to overcome a +50 negative rating, for example.
February 13th, 2016 at 7:39 PM ^
February 13th, 2016 at 5:45 PM ^
February 13th, 2016 at 6:39 PM ^
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February 13th, 2016 at 5:45 PM ^
I've thought for some time that the Constitution needs some sort of exit mechanism for Supreme Court justices - either term limits or a mandatory retirement age.
It seems odd that the justices are basically asked to remain on the job for the rest of their lives because the consequences of them retiring (and potentially being replaced by someone else for 30 years) are too great for whichever party nominated them.
February 13th, 2016 at 5:48 PM ^
February 13th, 2016 at 5:49 PM ^
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February 13th, 2016 at 5:46 PM ^
February 13th, 2016 at 5:48 PM ^
I also did not realize that you talked to every American and got their view on this subject. Impressive.
February 13th, 2016 at 6:34 PM ^
February 13th, 2016 at 5:51 PM ^
Polling says otherwise.
February 13th, 2016 at 6:11 PM ^
You said that nobody "respects" the Supreme Court. That link indicates that at least 45% do.
There also is a huge difference between respect and approval. You do not need to approve of something to respect it.
February 13th, 2016 at 6:16 PM ^
February 13th, 2016 at 6:19 PM ^
between respect and approval fatally undermines your point. Then there is the fact that both parties know and expect judges to rule largely according to their philosophies.
February 13th, 2016 at 6:23 PM ^
February 13th, 2016 at 5:49 PM ^