The Supreme Court

Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia has died. He was 79. Scalia was found in his hotel room at a ranch he had been staying at. When he didn’t show up for breakfast the morning after his death, the ranch owner became concerned. When late morning approached and there was still no sign of him, the owner knocked on the door. Hearing no response, he went inside and found Justice Scalia in his bed. Authorities were called and he was ultimately pronounced dead at the scene.

Conservative Voice

Justice Scalia was known for having one of the most conservative voices in the Supreme Court. He was against same-sex marriage, and he voiced his disgust at the passing of Obergefell vs. Hodges, the Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide in 2015. He said that while same-sex marriage didn’t affect him personally, it was an overreach by the Supreme Court. He feels the ruling took away the power of the people. Scalia also strongly opposed abortion, and thought that Roe vs. Wade, the court case that legalized abortion, should be overturned.

Questions Surrounding His Death

There are many questions surrounding the seemingly mysterious death of Justice Scalia. It has been determined he died of natural causes and an autopsy is not going to be performed. Many think the fact that an autopsy is not being ordered is highly suspicious, considering the controversial opinions Justice Scalia had in the Supreme Court. Yes, he was 79, so it isn’t terribly uncommon for someone to die of natural causes, especially in his or her sleep. However, the reports from the ranch owner that Justice Scalia was found with a pillow over his head have some concerned. It wouldn’t be terribly outside the realm of possibility to consider that some would have preferred him dead. It still seems unlikely, however, that someone would go to those lengths to silence a voice in the Supreme Court.

The Evening of His Death

The evening before his death, those who were with Justice Scalia said he was in good spirits. He and several of his friends were enjoying the evening together. At around 9 p.m., he said he was tired from his busy week and wanted to go to bed. He didn’t seem to be feeling ill and nothing seemed out of the ordinary. The family was surprised to hear of his passing, but said they did not want an autopsy performed.

Health Issues?

There are some conflicting reports over whether or not Justice Scalia was experiencing health issues. In addition, there are questions surrounding the terminology used describing his death. Reports said he had died of myocardial infarction, which would suggest a heart attack. However, it was later stated that it simply meant his heart stopped, but that he had passed from natural causes. Some state that Justice Scalia was in perfect health, however there are reports that conflict that:

• His physician says he was suffering from a variety of chronic conditions.
• The physician’s report is expected to be included with the death certificate.

What’s Next?

Surprisingly, this is only the second time in the last 60 years that a Supreme Court Justice has passed away while still in office. With Justice Scalia’s sudden death, there are eight justices on the Supreme Court. It’s interesting because four of these justices are more conservative while four of them are more liberal. It is up to Obama to nominate the next Justice, however there is no specific timeline for when he will do that. Right now, the country is focusing on mourning the loss of a Supreme Court Justice, and figuring out what this means for the future.