Senior U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia found dead at West Texas ranch

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**Co'tor Shas**

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/us-world/article/Senior-Associate-Justice-Antonin-Scalia-found-6828930.php

Associate Justice Antonin Scalia was found dead of apparent natural causes Saturday on a luxury resort in West Texas, federal officials said.
Scalia, 79, was a guest at the Cibolo Creek Ranch, a resort in the Big Bend region south of Marfa.
According to a report, Scalia arrived at the ranch on Friday and attended a private party with about 40 people. When he did not appear for breakfast, a person associated with the ranch went to his room and found a body.

Chief U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia, of the Western Judicial District of Texas, was notified about the death from the U.S. Marshals Service.
U.S. District Judge Fred Biery said he was among those notified about Scalia's death.
"I was told it was this morning," Biery said of Scalia's death. "It happened on a ranch out near Marfa. As far as the details, I think it's pretty vague right now as to how," he said. "My reaction is it's very unfortunate. It's unfortunate with any death, and politically in the presidential cycle we're in, my educated guess is nothing will happen before the next president is elected."

The U.S. Marshal Service, the Presidio County sheriff and the FBI were involved in the investigation.
Officials with the law enforcement agencies declined to comment.
A federal official who asked not to be named said there was no evidence of foul play and it appeared that Scalia died of natural causes.
A gray Cadillac hearse pulled into the ranch last Saturday afternoon. The hearse came from Alpine Memorial Funeral Home.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott released a statement Saturday afternoon, calling Scalia a man of God, a patriot and an "unwavering defender of the written Constitution."
"He was the solid rock who turned away so many attempts to depart from and distort the Constitution," Abbott said. "We mourn his passing, and we pray that his successor on the Supreme Court will take his place as a champion for the written Constitution and the Rule of Law. Cecilia and I extend our deepest condolences to his family, and we will keep them in our thoughts and prayers."
Scalia was nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1986 by President Ronald Reagan.

Staff writers Vianna Davila, Tyler White and Richard A. Marini, John MacCormack and Guillermo Contreras contributed to this report.

**Peregrine**

And not a single tear should be shed for him.

**KaptinBadrukk**

OK, 2016. Stop it. We've had enough.

Condolences go to his family.

**Co'tor Shas**

Peregrine wrote:
And not a single tear should be shed for him.

Peregrine, please, I have no particular love if him either, and vehemently disagree with his politics, but don't be donkey-cave about it.

**Peregrine**

KaptinBadrukk wrote:
OK, 2016. Stop it. We've had enough.

No, Let's keep it polite

**KaptinBadrukk**

Peregrine wrote:
KaptinBadrukk wrote:
OK, 2016. Stop it. We've had enough.

Let's keep it polite

What?!

**Peregrine**

Let's keep it polite

**motyak**

Ok let's cool it on the incredibly disrespectful comments. It wouldn't fly in the David Bowie thread or any of the others, so even though this death has political meaning as well we're not going to allow the rudeness. Posts have been edited accordingly

**Ouze**

I think it's best to divide Scalia's career into "up until around 2005 or so" and "previous to 2005". In the "Previous to 2005" block, I didn't often agree with his decisions but I always found his logic and reasoning to be sound. After 2005 or so, he seemed to become more overtly political and it became harder and harder to agree with either his decisions or his logic.

In any event, I strongly agree that coming into a thread to crap on someone's memory before their body is cold is what is known in bird culture as "a dick move". I will only say that I'm surprised, because I figured he had at least 10 more years in him. Nearly 80 years is still a pretty good run, though.

**Co'tor Shas**

Yeah, I would have thought Ginsberg would have died. Although she certainly looks like she takes better care of herself and women generally live longer than men, so there's that.

**d-usa**

The important question is this: Where was Dick Cheney during all of this?

**djones520**

I hope his rest is peaceful.

Amusing (in a sad way) to see the red text in here.

**hotsauceman1**

Can obama appoint a judge this late in his term?
How will this affect the elctions if so?

**djones520**

hotsauceman1 wrote:
Can obama appoint a judge this late in his term?
How will this affect the elctions if so?

It doesn't matter if it was his last day if office, he'd still have the authority to begin the process. Given that he has a little less then a year left in office, he will appoint a replacement. It's unlikely to affect the election in any meaningful manner. Given the total lack of any discussion I've seen on this topic, it is clear that the US doesn't give a gak.

**dogma**

djones520 wrote:
It's unlikely to affect the election in any meaningful manner. Given the total lack of any discussion I've seen on this topic, it is clear that the US doesn't give a gak.

It will once Obama appoints someone. Cruz, and Cruz supporters, will have a field day.

**Ouze**

djones520 wrote:
Given the total lack of any discussion I've seen on this topic, it is clear that the US doesn't give a gak.

Maybe that's a reflection of the circles you run in? Nearly everyone I know is talking about this.

Almost no one I know was talking about the Super Bowl, but that's because I don't care about sports and don't really cultivate friends who are into sports, but I don't think there was a lack of interest in the Super Bowl, for example.

**DarkLink**

Co'tor Shas wrote:
Peregrine wrote:
And not a single tear should be shed for him.

Peregrine, please, I have no particular love if him either, and vehemently disagree with his politics, but don't be donkey-cave about it.

It's peregine. What'd you expect?

**djones520**

dogma wrote:
djones520 wrote:
It's unlikely to affect the election in any meaningful manner. Given the total lack of any discussion I've seen on this topic, it is clear that the US doesn't give a gak.

It will once Obama appoints someone. Cruz, and Cruz supporters, will have a field day.

I doubt it. Going after Obama won't do much, since he's a "lame duck". Their going to continue hammering on Clinton/Sanders more.

**Laughing Man**

djones520 wrote:
dogma wrote:
djones520 wrote:
It's unlikely to affect the election in any meaningful manner. Given the total lack of any discussion I've seen on this topic, it is clear that the US doesn't give a gak.

It will once Obama appoints someone. Cruz, and Cruz supporters, will have a field day.

I doubt it. Going after Obama won't do much, since he's a "lame duck". Their going to continue hammering on Clinton/Sanders more.

Too late. Cruz already started hammering Obama about it about an hour after Scalia was confirmed dead.

**Ouze**

I'm surprised Turd Cruz didn't accuse Obama of killing him.

**dogma**

djones520 wrote:

I doubt it. Going after Obama won't do much, since he's a "lame duck". Their going to continue hammering on Clinton/Sanders more.

A lot of Republican rhetoric has been predicated on the notion that Obama = Bad, so I can't imagine any given Republican candidate is going to shy away from tying any given Democrat to that body of thought; especially when the arguments are so easy to make.

Ouze wrote:
I'm surprised Turd Cruz didn't accuse Obama of killing him.

Give the man some time.

**Dreadwinter**

djones520 wrote:
dogma wrote:
djones520 wrote:
It's unlikely to affect the election in any meaningful manner. Given the total lack of any discussion I've seen on this topic, it is clear that the US doesn't give a gak.

It will once Obama appoints someone. Cruz, and Cruz supporters, will have a field day.

I doubt it. Going after Obama won't do much, since he's a "lame duck". Their going to continue hammering on Clinton/Sanders more.

If Obama is able to get a Justice through, this will be a major campaign thing for the GOP to rally. They will be able to rally supporters on the assumption that there will be another 1-2 vacant seats in the next 4-8 years.

People I know that aren't even interested in politics are talking about this. It is a big deal.

**Ouze**

Obama is scheduled to speak about this at 8:30 ET.

**d-usa**

He is going to nominate himself and seal his path of destruction of American values!

**Dreadwinter**

d-usa wrote:
He is going to nominate himself and seal his path of destruction of American values!

Oh man, then we can all say "Thanks Obama!" for the rest of his life!

PLEASE!

**d-usa**

The Onion nailed the headline.

**Ahtman**

d-usa wrote:
The Onion nailed the headline.

Clinton Aide Told To Leave Behind Weak Volunteer Who Collapsed During March To South Carolina? That was the headline when I checked.

**d-usa**

Ahtman wrote:
d-usa wrote:
The Onion nailed the headline.

Clinton Aide Told To Leave Behind Weak Volunteer Who Collapsed During March To South Carolina? That was the headline when I checked.

"Justice Scalia Dead Following 30-Year Battle With Social Progress "

**Breotan**

hotsauceman1 wrote:
Can obama appoint a judge this late in his term?
How will this affect the elctions if so?

President Obama can nominate anyone at any time. Given the acrimonious nature of the Senate, it is unlikely any nominee will be confirmed.

This election is going to become more important for the Republicans given the balance of the Court is essentially the real prize. Ask yourself, "Who will Trump nominate?" Nobody knows the answer to that, unlike with Cruz or even Rubio.

I suppose some in the Left wing will also become energized by the opportunity to change the makeup of the court for a long time to come but I don't see that energy being as strong as with the Right.

**d-usa**

Breotan wrote:

I suppose some in the Left wing will also become energized by the opportunity to change the makeup of the court for a long time to come but I don't see that energy being as strong as with the Right.

The 4 - 4 tie currently predicted for one of the biggest abortion cases in decades will bring out the Left. As will the upcoming case about Executive Orders with Climate Change and Immigration. Add on the feelings about Citizens United and Guns and you have a mix that will get both sides fired up.