A Texas newspaper reported today that U.S. Supreme Court Senior Justice Antonin Scalia was discovered dead of apparent natural causes at a West Texas ranch. According to the San Antonio Express News, Scalia arrived at the ranch on Friday and attended a private party with about 40 people. When he did not appear for breakfast, a person associated with the ranch went to his room and discovered his body.
Following the news of Justice Scalia's passing, Texas Governor Greg Abbott released the following statement:
"Justice Antonin Scalia was a man of God, a patriot, and an unwavering defender of the written Constitution and the Rule of Law. He was the solid rock who turned away so many attempts to depart from and distort the Constitution. His fierce loyalty to the Constitution set an unmatched example, not just for judges and lawyers, but for all Americans. We mourn his passing, and we pray that his successor on the Supreme Court will take his place as a champion for the written Constitution and the Rule of Law. Cecilia and I extend our deepest condolences to his family, and we will keep them in our thoughts and prayers."