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Connecticut Mourns Death Of Justice Scalia; Flags Ordered To Half-Staff

FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. — As Connecticut politicians mourned the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, Gov. Dannel Malloy directed U.S. and state flags to fly at half-staff until sunset on the day of Scalia's interment.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, 79, died Saturday while on vacation in Texas.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, 79, died Saturday while on vacation in Texas.

Photo Credit: Wikipedia
Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia died Saturday while on vacation in Texas.

Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia died Saturday while on vacation in Texas.

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

The order is in accordance with a proclamation from President Barack Obama. 

"Justice Scalia served the court — and the nation — honorably," Malloy said. "While we may have disagreed politically, what is unquestionable was Justice Scalia's dedication to America. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family."

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said he was saddened by Scalia's death.

“The son of an immigrant, dedicated public servant, acerbic wit, and gifted writer and orator, Justice Scalia lived a uniquely American life. I respected his intellect and patriotism. My thoughts are with his wife Maureen and their entire family," Blumenthal said.

“My hope is that the president will promptly nominate someone with strong intellect and integrity who can win bipartisan support. I will work vigorously as a member of the Judiciary Committee to achieve confirmation.”

Scalia, 79, the longest-serving justice on the Supreme Court, was found dead of apparent natural causes Saturday at a luxury resort in West Texas.

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts confirmed Scalia's death in a statement Saturday.

"He was an extraordinary individual and jurist, admired and treasured by his colleagues," Roberts said in his statement. "His passing is a great loss to the court and the country he so loyally served. We extend our deepest condolences to his wife Maureen and his family."

A devout Roman Catholic, Scalia is survived by his wife, nine children and numerous grandchildren.

Scalia, who was known for his conservative views, was nominated to the Supreme Court in 1986 by President Ronald Reagan. He had served 29 years and was the first Italian-American to serve on the high court.

"Justice Scalia and I had fundamental disagreements about how the Supreme Court interprets the Constitution, but we shared a belief that sharp debates, tough questions, and deep respect for the adversarial process was an essential part of our judicial system and our democracy," Vice President Joe Biden said in a statement. 

"That’s how our rule of law — forged with the deep principles and convictions of justices, and laid out in majority decisions and minority dissents— becomes the model for the world," Biden said. 

"For the country, Justice Scalia will be remembered as one of our most influential justices, who inspired and challenged generations of students, clerks, lawyers, and judges. And for so many, he will be remembered as a mentor, dear friend, and a man devoted to his faith and his family, who will miss him most of all, and who we will keep in our prayers."

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