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Influential Republican Supreme Court associate justice Antonin Scalia died Feb. 13, 2016, at the age of 79. Justice Scalia served on the Supreme Court for 30 years, and his death leaves a significant vacancy in the court during the race for the White House.
Scalia was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1986 by President Ronald Regan. Over Scalia’s tenure, he became a polarizing figure due to his conservative views and rulings.
One of the most famous cases during Scalia’s tenure in the Supreme Court was the 2000 Bush v. Gore case, in which the Supreme Court stopped the recount of ballots in Florida in the 2000 presidential election.
Another high profile case was the 1992 Casey v. Planned Parenthood. The case, brought by five abortion clinics after revisions made to the Pennsylvania Abortion Control Act of 1982, was to argue whether the revisions upheld the Roe v. Wade decision guaranteed women the right to an abortion.
The respondent in the case was then-Pennsylvania Governor Robert Casey Sr., father of current U.S. Sen. Robert Casey. Scalia wrote in the dissent that he is “certain” abortion was not protected by the Constitution because, “the Constitution says nothing about it, and the longstanding traditions of American society have permitted it to be legally proscribed.”
While Democrats and Republicans struggle to find common ground on how to replace Scalia’s vacancy, local lawmakers of both political parties are mourning his death.
Both U.S. Senators Pat Toomey, R-Zionsville, and Bob Casey, D-Scranton, took to Twitter to offer condolences to Scalia’s family; saying the nation lost a public servant.
“Today our nation mourns for Justice Scalia and his family,” Casey posted, “it’s a day to acknowledge and express gratitude for his decades of public service.”
Similarly, Toomey said, “We lost a great public servant, principled conservative and tireless defender of the Constitution. My prayers are with Justice Scalia’s family.”
U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, R-Hazleton, also shared condolences on social media, calling Scalia “one of the greatest conservative legal minds this nation has ever produced.”
“As the first Italian-American member of the high court, and also a Catholic, he was a strong role model for countless others like me in this country,” Barletta said, “May he rest in peace.”
Former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett, released a statement recounting the time Justice Scalia spoke at the 150th anniversary of the dedication of Soldiers’ National Cemetery — the cemetery where President Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address.
“Justice Scalia spoke at that ceremony and his words were inspiring and illustrated his deep love of country and the United States Constitution,” Corbett said.
Times Leader staff writer Melanie Mizenko contributed to this report.
