Antonin Scalia

Date of Birth: March 11, 1936

Zodiac Sign: Pisces

Date of Death: February 13, 2016

Biography

Antonin Gregory Scalia was an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, serving from 1986 until his death in 2016. Born in Trenton, New Jersey, Scalia was the only child of Catherine Louise and Salvatore Eugene Scalia, an Italian immigrant. He was known for his textualist approach to the Constitution and his originalist views on interpreting the law. Scalia attended Georgetown University and Harvard Law School, where he excelled academically. Before his appointment to the Supreme Court, Scalia held various roles, including Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Counsel and a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Appointed by President Ronald Reagan, Scalia was the first Italian-American to serve on the Supreme Court. Throughout his tenure, he was known for his sharp wit, compelling legal opinions, and vocal dissents.

5 Interesting Facts about Antonin Scalia

1. Antonin Scalia was the first Italian-American to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.

2. He was a devout Catholic and often spoke about the influence of his faith on his life.

3. Scalia believed strongly in originalism, the idea that the Constitution should be interpreted as it was understood at the time it was written.

4. He was known for his compelling writing style, often employing wit and sarcasm in his opinions and dissents.

5. Scalia served on the Supreme Court for nearly 30 years, making him one of the longest-serving justices.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Antonin Scalia

1. “The Constitution is not a living organism. It’s a legal document, and it says what it says and doesn’t say what it doesn’t say.”

2. “A Constitution is meant to be stable and enduring. It is not meant to facilitate change. It is meant to impede change, to make it difficult to change.”

3. “If you think aficionados of a living Constitution want to bring you flexibility, think again. Their real objective is to disempower the American people and empower themselves.”

4. “What is a moderate interpretation of the text? Halfway between what it really means and what you’d like it to mean?”

5. “Bear in mind that brains and learning, like muscle and physical skill, are articles of commerce. They are bought and sold. You can hire them by the year or by the hour. The only thing in the world not for sale is character.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the time of his death, Antonin Scalia’s estimated net worth was around $4 million.

Children

Antonin Scalia and his wife, Maureen McCarthy Scalia, had nine children: Eugene, John, Paul, Matthew, Christopher, Margaret, Mary, Ann, and Catherine. Eugene Scalia is a lawyer who has served as the United States Secretary of Labor.