“He knew well what a close-run thing the founding of our nation was. A blessing quickly lost when faith is banned from the public square or when we refuse to bring it there”.
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Earnest noted Obama would go to the Supreme Court building on Friday, and Vice President Joe Biden would represent the Obama administration at the funeral. Justice Clarence Thomas said, “It is hard to imagine the court without my friend”. Four of the five Catholic justices took communion.
The Rev. Paul Scalia, the justice’s son and a Catholic priest, presided over a traditional service that lasted more than 1 1/2 hours and dispensed with eulogies that Scalia himself had said he did not like. Retired Justice Sandra Day O’Connor was unable to attend. The Senate must confirm any nominee. Scalia’s former clerks followed as honorary pallbearers.
The current solicitor general, Donald Verrilli, also was present, as were White House counsel Neil Eggleston and Attorney General Loretta lynch.
A CBS News poll released Thursday showed 47 percent of Americans want Mr. Obama to name the next justice, while 46 percent said they want to wait until next year.
Scalia’s casket arrived Friday morning, with Supreme Court police carrying it up the marble steps. “Justice Scalia has been a personal hero of mine, virtually my entire life”.
GOP presidential hopeful Ted Cruz interrupted his campaign ahead of Saturday’s SC primary to attend the Mass. The Texas senator has been among those urging the Senate not to consider replacing Scalia until after the November election.
This week, we’d like to ask you: Who would you like to see become the next Supreme Court justice? Among them were several mentioned as possible successors: Judges Sri Srinivasan and Patricia Millett and Chief Judge Merrick Garland, all of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
The White House said the president and first lady Michelle Obama will pay their respects during the day.
Scalia’s funeral service will be Saturday at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and will be attended by Vice President Biden. “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.
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A large entourage of Scalia family members is expected to attend.
