Today, the legal community and the United States lost “one
of the most consequential judges and thinkers to serve on the Supreme Court.”
Even Barack Obama had enough class to speak well of his vociferous opponent; unfortunately,
I cannot say the same for others.
I do not know if his death was sudden, or if he was
struggling to hang on despite pain and failing health. Regardless, he knew he
was not getting any younger, and I am sure he was tempted to resign early. Yet,
rather than rest on the laurels of past achievements, which were many, he
sought to remain in office and struggled to uphold the text and original intent
of the U.S. Constitution.
As a law student, you either read him with a resounding
"amen" or saw his opinions as legalistic argle-bargle. Love him or
hate him, he was certainly entertaining. He was the last of a dying breed in
the legal world, a real straight shooter who was not afraid to cut through the
chicanery and call a spade a spade (or call Chicago pizza a "tomato pie”).
I leave you with my favorite Scalia quote:
“If I have brought any message today, it is this:
Have the courage to have your wisdom regarded as stupidity...Be fools for
Christ. And have the courage to suffer the contempt of the sophisticated
world.”
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