# Reports that Justice Scalia has died **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 13, 2016, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reports-that-justice-scalia-has-died/746053 "2016-02-13T22:12:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reports-that-justice-scalia-has-died/746053/1 "2016-02-13T22:12:47Z")
Here’s the article. [http://www.kvia.com/news/breaking-surpreme-court-justice-scalia-dies-during-hunting-trip-in-marfa/37981652](http://www.kvia.com/news/breaking-surpreme-court-justice-scalia-dies-during-hunting-trip-in-marfa/37981652) Will Pres Obama be able to successfully appoint another justice before he leaves office? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reports-that-justice-scalia-has-died/746053/2 "2016-02-13T22:15:25Z")
If I may, I’d like to offer [a song in the dear Justice’s memory](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHQLQ1Rc_Js). ---
**Author:** ![Tinkertoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f19dbf/32.png) [@Tinkertoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tinkertoy)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reports-that-justice-scalia-has-died/746053/3 "2016-02-13T22:16:12Z")
With the House and senate predominantly republican, not a chance. ---
**Author:** ![Tinkertoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f19dbf/32.png) [@Tinkertoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tinkertoy)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reports-that-justice-scalia-has-died/746053/4 "2016-02-13T22:17:23Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > If I may, I’d like to offer [a song in the dear Justice’s memory](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHQLQ1Rc_Js). I was just humming that song. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reports-that-justice-scalia-has-died/746053/5 "2016-02-13T22:19:18Z")
Wow. Absolutely monumental news. I was not a fan, but RIP and best wishes to his family. This election season just got much, much unpredictable. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reports-that-justice-scalia-has-died/746053/6 "2016-02-13T22:19:21Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > If I may, I’d like to offer [a song in the dear Justice’s memory](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHQLQ1Rc_Js). > [@Tinkertoy](#): > > I was just humming that song. Thirding that. I haven’t felt this good since Jesse Helms slipped this mortal coil. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reports-that-justice-scalia-has-died/746053/7 "2016-02-13T22:19:26Z")
Well dang… now how is Clarence Thomas supposed to know how to vote? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reports-that-justice-scalia-has-died/746053/8 "2016-02-13T22:20:11Z")
I wonder who Cheney was aiming for? ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reports-that-justice-scalia-has-died/746053/9 "2016-02-13T22:21:56Z")
> [@Tinkertoy](#): > > With the House and senate predominantly republican, not a chance. Only the Senate matters. But I get your point. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reports-that-justice-scalia-has-died/746053/10 "2016-02-13T22:27:01Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Wow. Absolutely monumental news. I was not a fan, but RIP and best wishes to his family. > > This election season just got much, much unpredictable. ? I’m not seeing the immediate connection to the predictability of the POTUS race. How would this make any difference in the way anyone will vote? ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reports-that-justice-scalia-has-died/746053/11 "2016-02-13T22:27:32Z")
That’s too bad. Whatever you might think of his beliefs he was a good jurist. Oh, wait, I forgot where I was for a minute. He was terrible glad he’s dead HURR DURR. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reports-that-justice-scalia-has-died/746053/12 "2016-02-13T22:28:24Z")
> [@astro](#): > > How would this make any difference in the way anyone will vote? Assuming that the nomination remains logjammed between now and November, then the election essentially becomes a referendum on whether the Supreme Court will have a liberal or conservative majority for the foreseeable future. > [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > Oh, wait, I forgot where I was for a minute. He was terrible glad he’s dead HURR DURR. As a great American once said; [QUOTE=Clarence Darrow] I have never killed any one, but I have read some obituary notices with great satisfaction. [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reports-that-justice-scalia-has-died/746053/13 "2016-02-13T22:30:00Z")
> [@Tinkertoy](#): > > With the House and senate predominantly republican, not a chance. But will the Democrats be able to force this into an election issue? If the Democrats can successfully hammer home that the Republicans are willing to hamper the Supreme Court for a full year just for political gain, then it could be just enough of a wedge issue to get them over the top in the election. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reports-that-justice-scalia-has-died/746053/14 "2016-02-13T22:31:12Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Assuming that the nomination remains logjammed between now and November, then the election essentially becomes a referendum on whether the Supreme Court will have a liberal or conservative majority for the foreseeable future. I don’t think Joe or Josephine average voter is going to be making their choice based on that hypothetical. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reports-that-justice-scalia-has-died/746053/15 "2016-02-13T22:32:51Z")
> [@astro](#): > > I don’t think Joe or Josephine average voter is going to be making their choice based on that hypothetical. Then it becomes the obligation of the pundits and campaigners on both sides of the aisle to _educate_ them on that hypothetical, because it is now the deciding question on which this election shall be won or lost. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reports-that-justice-scalia-has-died/746053/16 "2016-02-13T22:35:02Z")
I can’t say I’m shocked. In recent years, his temperament seemed to shift, which is unusual in the late 70s, I think. It seemed he died peacefully in while hunting in Texas. Not a bad death for the guy. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reports-that-justice-scalia-has-died/746053/17 "2016-02-13T22:35:39Z")
> [@astro](#): > > I don’t think Joe or Josephine average voter is going to be making their choice based on that hypothetical. For democrats, I think this also makes the question “who do you think will be able to get a nominee confirmed, Bernie or Hillary” an important question. Don’t underestimate how many democrats pay attention to the composition of the SCOTUS. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reports-that-justice-scalia-has-died/746053/18 "2016-02-13T22:36:47Z")
He was a terrible Justice who I wanted to see get impeached but he was funny and wrote opinions like no one else did. RIP. Side note: this shit show election just became a cluster fuck. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reports-that-justice-scalia-has-died/746053/19 "2016-02-13T22:38:58Z")
What’s the longest the court has been without a ninth member? And the average voter may not get how important the court is, but I think they might understand “this is a government function, but certain people aren’t letting it function fully”. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reports-that-justice-scalia-has-died/746053/20 "2016-02-13T22:42:02Z")
Are there any particularly important cases that are expected to reach the Supreme Court docket in the next year or two? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reports-that-justice-scalia-has-died/746053.md?page=2)