Commentary: Saying goodbye to true proponent of the rule of law
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The third branch of the federal government -- the judiciary -- plays a critical role in our constitutional republic. As the highest court in the land, it serves, in essence, to ensure the whims of a majority do not undermine the fundamental, constitutional American values that make our nation unique.
Since the formation of the Supreme Court in 1790, there have been only 17 Chief Justices and 100 associate justices, with justices serving for an average of 16 years. Sadly, on Feb. 13, our longest-serving member of the current court, Justice Antonin Scalia, passed away after serving for three decades.
Antonin Scalia, whose career began in Cleveland with Jones Day, was a tireless champion of our founding fathers' principles, and a fierce defender of our Constitution. He left Cleveland when he recognized the passion he had to teach, like his father, and became a professor at the University of Virginia Law School.
Immediately following the aftermath of the 1974 Watergate scandal, Scalia was appointed assistant attorney general for the Office of Legal Counsel. After teaching at the University of Chicago Law School, Scalia accepted an appointment by President Ronald Reagan in 1982 to the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.
During his time in the Court of Appeals, Scalia built a strong conservative record and was praised by legal minds for his critical views on the U.S. Supreme Court, and his influential writing. Then in 1986, Antonin Scalia was appointed as an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court by President Reagan.
Justice Scalia's tenure on the U.S. Supreme Court was guided by the notion that our Constitution should be interpreted in terms of what it meant to our founding fathers who ratified it over two centuries ago; this legal philosophy known as originalism.
Scalia did more to advance originalism and judicial restraint than anyone in our time. He was a legal thought-leader and during his time on the Court authored both majority opinions and artful, but scathing, dissents which will endure for generations. His legacy of wit and elegantly crafted opinions will be forever remembered.
Justice Scalia changed the direction of the U.S. Supreme Court as the anchor of the conservative majority. He opposed the decisions that upheld abortion, same-sex marriage and the Affordable Care Act. The death of Justice Scalia will dramatically affect the outcome of rulings to come.
Currently, the Supreme Court has six major cases on its docket for this term including abortion, contraception, unions, voting rights, affirmative action and immigration. With this tremendous loss on the court, there are now only eight remaining sitting justices.
As the president has noted, elections have consequences. The U.S. Senate today is very different than the Democratic-controlled Senate that confirmed Justices Kagan and Sotomayor. The Constitution requires the Senate to "advice and consent" on any potential nominee.
Leader Mitch McConnell has advised the president the American people must have the final say in the court's next nominee in November, and I support this decision.
As a fellow Italian-American and Catholic, Justice Antonin Scalia will be sorely missed, and my thoughts and prayers continue to be with his family.
Contact Rep. Jim Renacci at renacci.house.gov, on Facebook (facebook.com/repjimrenacci) and Twitter (twitter.com/repjimrenacci), his Wads-worth office at 330-334-0040 or his Washington office at 202-225-3876. He has updates on YouTube as well.