Thousands expected at Mass for Antonin Scalia

Only one of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia’s nine children spoke publicly at his funeral Mass on Saturday, but others have spoken and written about their father this week.

The court’s remaining eight justices were among those on hand to say farewell to their former colleague, who died last week at age 79. Chief Justice John Roberts called him an “extraordinary jurist”.

Scalia – a conservative icon – was a devout and tradition-bound Catholic.

Washington Archbishop Donald Cardinal Wuerl has drawn chuckles when he told the massive crowd at Justice Antonin Scalia’s funeral Mass that he would keep opening remarks brief “in keeping with your desire to have a simple parish family Mass”.

The issue has been heightened by the fact that the Supreme Court is set to decide its first major abortion case in almost 10 years, as well as legal challenges on voting rights, affirmative action, immigration and unions.

His sudden death complicated an already tumultuous election year.

Maureen Scalia, center, widow of U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia, waits on the portico of the court building to receive her husband’s casket February 19, 2016, in Washington, D.C. It’s a court that plays a much larger policy-making role than it did for much of our history.

Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia’s son Paul – a Catholic priest – recited traditional prayers over his father’s casket after it was placed in the Supreme Court’s Great Hall.

He paused, then added, “That man, of course, is Jesus of Nazareth”.

Former vice president Dick Cheney, former House speaker Newt Gingrich and Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, the papal nuncio to the United States, were also in attendance. The burial afterward was to be private.

The president and First Lady Michelle Obama were not present Saturday – an absence sharply criticized by some Republicans.

Vice President Joe Biden will represent the White House at Saturday’s funeral. “Very sad that he did not go!”

Scalia’s casket lies in repose on the Lincoln catafalque in the court’s Great Hall as mourners file through during a daylong remembrance honoring one of the court’s most influential members. A spokesman said the president did not want his presence at the basilica to be a distraction.

In a separate interview broadcast on MSNBC, Biden said he would be deeply involved in advising Obama but that he had no desire himself to be named to the high court.

“Scalia is only the fourth justice to die in office in the past 65 years, and there is no consistent pattern of presidential attendance at court funerals”, Nina says. Obama has said he would submit a nomination to replace Scalia, but Senate Republican leaders have said that should be left to the next president.

Earnest gave no clues about whom Obama might pick but said the lengthy briefing materials included information about “some potential nominees” including career accomplishments and experience.