Scalia remembered as man of faith, family and the law

About 100 of Scalia’s former law clerks joined the eight surviving and two retired justices, along with other members of his jurisprudential family. More than 6,000 people came to see the late Scalia, 79, lie in repose at the Supreme Court Friday, including President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama. Losing the current 5 – 4 majority would be a tremendous loss for those who want to preserve the constitutional government we now enjoy, and it would also put our freedoms in jeopardy.

Assume Republicans succeed as they hope: They deny Obama an appointee, and a Republican wins the White House in November.

Scalia’s flag-draped casket was brought to the church Saturday morning, in a short trip from the Supreme Court building on Capitol Hill.

There is no tradition in not nominating during the past year of a presidential term; in fact there have been numerous nominations and confirmations done such as, Justice Kennedy (1988), Justices Powell and Rehnquist (1972), Justice Brennan (1956), Justice Murphy (1940), Justice Cardozo (1932), Justice Clarke (1916) and Justice Brandeis (1916).

“God bless dad for his faith”, said the Rev. Paul Scalia, one of Justice Scalia’s nine children, who led the service at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington.

Among those expected to attend is Vice President Joe Biden. Instead, his son spoke with reverence and humor about Scalia as a father and Catholic who saw “no conflict between faith and the love of one’s country”. GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump on Saturday tweeted, “I wonder if President Obama would have attended the funeral of Justice Scalia if it were held in a Mosque? Right now, we are particularly grateful for it”, Paul Scalia said.

The Scalia family has announced a memorial program to be held March 1.

Former Vice President Dick Cheney, left, and Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas at the funeral Mass for Associate Justice Antonin Scalia.

There will not be another Scalia on the court, because there is no prospect of approval of other than a middle-of-the-road candidate who can garner 60 votes in the Senate – regardless of who is president.

Obama said Tuesday that he would not make a recess appointment “full stop”. The church, dedicated to Mary, is a pilgrimage site where Pope Francis celebrated the canonization Mass for St. Junipero Serra previous year – the first-ever such Mass on American soil.

Scalia’s sons and sons-in-law served as pallbearers at the basilica, as did a Supreme Court police honor guard.

John Roberts, Chief Justice of the United States (R), his wife, Jane, and daughter, Josie, arrive for the funeral of Associate Justice Antonin Scalia at the the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Feb. 20.