The death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia shocked the American political world Saturday, with many Republican presidential candidates reacting with sadness to the news.
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz called the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia the death of one of the greatest people to serve on the court in its history.
In a Facebook post, Cruz called Scalia “one of the greatest justices in history” and said he changed the course of legal history.
“As liberals and conservatives alike would agree, through his powerful and persuasive opinions, Justice Scalia fundamentally changed how courts interpret the Constitution and statutes, returning the focus to the original meaning of the text after decades of judicial activism,” Cruz wrote. “And he authored some of the most important decisions ever, including District of Columbia v. Heller, which recognized our fundamental right under the Second Amendment to keep and bear arms.”
He added, “He was an unrelenting defender of religious liberty, free speech, federalism, the constitutional separation of powers, and private property rights. All liberty-loving Americans should be in mourning.”
“Justice Scalia’s three decades on the Court was one of President Reagan’s most consequential legacies. Our prayers are with his beloved wife Maureen, their nine children, and their precious grandchildren.”
Scalia was found dead on a West Texas ranch Saturday morning after spending the previous day quail hunting. He was 79 and had been serving on the court since 1986.
GOP presidential frontrunne Donald Trump took to Twitter to express his condolences.
“The totally unexpected loss of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia is a massive setback for the Conservative movement and our COUNTRY!,” Trump tweeted.
Ohio Gov. John Kasich said he was saddened and called Scalia’s death a massive loss for the country.
“He was an essential force for conservative thought and is a model for others to follow,” Kasich said in a statement. “His dedication to the Constitution and his love for and service to this country will be deeply missed.”
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio said the nation suffered a deep loss with Scalia’s death.
“Justice Scalia was one of the most consequential Americans in our history and a brilliant legal mind who served with only one objective: to interpret and defend the Constitution as written,” Rubio said.
He called for the next president, not President Obama to pick the next justice.
“The next president must nominate a justice who will continue Justice Scalia’s unwavering belief in the founding principles that we hold dear,” Rubio said. “Jeanette and I mourn the loss of Justice Scalia, and our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Maureen and his family.
“Justice Scalia was a brilliant defender of the rule of law — his logic and wit were unparalleled, and his decisions were models of clarity and good sense,” Bush said. “I often said he was my favorite justice, because he took the Constitution, and the responsibility of judges to interpret it correctly, with the utmost seriousness.”
“Now it is up to all of us to fight for the principles Justice Scalia espoused and carry forth his legacy.”
Dr. Ben Carson added his voice to the call of people saying that no appointment should be made to the court until after President Obama leaves office.
Carson said Scalia was a great man and had a “trenchant wit.”
“He made Americans proud, not only because he gave to the court the power and persuasion of his brilliant legal mind, but because he defended the Constitution with an unshakeable commitment to the text and to the intent of the Founders,” Carson said.
Former presidential candidate Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul paid tribute to Scalia as an important force on the court.
“Justice Scalia was a defender of the constitution, an important conservative voice in the court. He will be missed,” Paul tweeted.
