The death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia was a tragic loss for the high court, the nation, and the Constitution. Sadly, few in my generation know who Justice Scalia was, and why he will be remembered as a true American patriot.
This year would have marked Scalia's 30th year as a Justice on the high court. In the past 30 years he helped change the course of the law with his unwavering determination to bring the Supreme Court back to following the rules and guidelines of the Constitution, the most important source of American law.
Scalia was the Supreme Court's most prominent proponent of constitutional "originalism." He believed the judges should look to the meaning of the Constitution at the time it was written. It is said that few have embodied the spirit of the Constitution more than Scalia.
Scalia, often times, didn't see eye-to-eye with his fellow Justices on the bench, as he often rejected their notion that the Constitution is a living document, and that it could be rewritten to add issues -- like gay marriage and more. After all, it is the Supreme Court's duty to interpret the laws, not remake or rewrite them. He believed that the political and social decisions are to be decided by the people through their elected representatives.
"What is a moderate interpretation of the text? Halfway between what it really means and what you'd like it to mean?" Justice Scalia on the Constitution.
On the bench, Scalia was an outspoken defender of life and stuck to both his Constitutional and Christian values. Scalia wasn't known for his landmark majority opinions, but rather his fiery opinions, humor, sarcasm, and wit, which he wasn't afraid to bring into the courtroom.
Scalia's death raises new questions regarding who will appoint his replacement. This is critical, as it affects every important social and political question of our time. So much is resting on the balance of the court and this decision, including religious liberties and the protection of the second amendment. This decision can, by no means, be taken lightly.
Justice Scalia and his Constitutional principles will be greatly missed and forever valued by his fellow conservatives.
