Justice Antonin Scalia was a brilliant jurist who played a critical role on the U.S. Supreme Court. He was someone who truly understood and respected the text of the Constitution, serving as the court’s constitutional watchdog, perhaps most especially through his dissents. His strong, grounded approach will be sorely missed.

Choosing the replacement to fill Justice Scalia’s vacancy has already become this year’s political firestorm in the U.S. Senate. Upon nominating Merrick Garland, President Obama proved what we already knew — that he yearns to significantly shift the balance of the high court for a long time to come. The president has less than a year left in his tenure, but a Supreme Court justice will impact our country for decades.