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U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia addresses the Legal Services Corporation’s 40th anniversary conference luncheon Sept. 15, 2014, in Washington, D.C.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Associate Justice Antonin Scalia was found dead on Saturday at a West Texas ranch, reports My San Antonio.
According to reports, Scalia, 79, arrived at the Cibolo Creek 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 him unresponsive.
There was no sign of foul play, according to an unnamed federal official who said that Justice Scalia died of natural causes. No official cause of death has been released.
According to My San Antonio, a gray Cadillac hearse from the Alpine Memorial Funeral Home pulled into the ranch on Saturday afternoon.
Scalia, the first Italian American on the high court, was nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1986 by President Ronald Reagan.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott released a statement Saturday afternoon, as did Chief Justice John Roberts, who he and other justices were “saddened” to hear of Scalia’s passing, according to CNN.
“He was an extraordinary individual and jurist, admired and treasured by his colleagues,” Roberts said. “His passing is a great loss to the court and the country he so loyally served. We extend our deepest condolences to his wife Maureen and his family.”
Already there is speculation about what Scalia’s death in an election year could mean. Early reports are saying that President Barack Obama will not nominate the conservative justice’s replacement and go through what will undoubtedly be a grueling confirmation in a Republican-controlled Senate.
It will certainly be a dominant theme from candidates for the 2016 presidential election.
Read more at My San Antonio.
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