Summary: The U.S. Supreme Court did not waste time getting back to work after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia.
Chief Justice John Roberts wasted no time getting back to business. He opened the session by praising the late Justice Antonin Scalia as an “irrepressible spirit” and a “man for all seasons” but then quickly moved on into two hours of oral arguments.
How Will the Death of Justice Antonin Scalia Change the Supreme Court?
Speculating who the replacement may be for Justice Scalia is causing turmoil in the political scene but Justice Roberts wanted it to be clear that the Supreme Court is about the work and not the drama.
Justice Roberts has been making his fears of the other political branches clear for quite some time, including during a speech at the University of Nebraska, “They are not getting along very well these days among themselves. And I don’t want it to spill over and affect us.”
Justice Antonin Scalia Addresses Right to Privacy
Friday evening the court issued a decision on the case of redistricting in North Carolina. The second case the Court ruled on was a Fourth Amendment case that would have had Scalia intensely involved. The Justices will discuss how the cases he was handling will be dealt with and will keep his clerks for now. Cases that appear to be split 4-4 will either be reexamined for another area that can be agreed upon, held onto until a new Justice is placed, or left as a tie so that the lower court ruling is left in place.
The Court canceled their closed door conference on Friday in respect for Scalia and his family but was ready to get back to the regular schedule on Monday. Scalia’s chair will remain draped in black for 30 days after which the seating will be rearranged to show seniority.
US Supreme Court Declines to Block Texas Abortion Law
Controversial issues coming up for rulings include an abortion case.
Source: http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/22/politics/john-roberts-opening-remarks-antonin-scalia/
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