Scalia's death plunges court, politics into turmoil

WASHINGTON - The death of Justice Antonin Scalia on Saturday sparked an immediate partisan battle over whether President Obama should be allowed to nominate his successor, even as leaders mourned the passing.

"Today our country lost an unwavering champion of a timeless document that unites each of us as Americans," said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.).

He also said in a statement that the Senate controlled by his party should wait to confirm a replacement. "The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court justice. Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president," he said.

But the battle lines were immediately apparent. Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid followed McConnell's statement with one of his own: "It would be unprecedented in recent history for the Supreme Court to go a year with a vacant seat," he said.

Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. officially announced the death after it was reported by news outlets in Texas. "He was an extraordinary individual and jurist, admired and treasured by his colleagues. His passing is a great loss to the court and the country he so loyally served," Roberts said in statement.

The White House issued a statement saying the president and his wife, Michelle, "extend their deepest condolences to Justice Scalia's family."

Gov. Christie called Scalia's death "an enormous loss."

Stephen A. Miller, 44, an attorney with the Cozen O'Connor law firm in Philadelphia, clerked for the justice in 1998-99. "Justice Scalia was a giant of American jurisprudence," Miller said.

Reaction also came in statements from the campaign trail.

"I did not hold Justice Scalia's views, but he was a dedicated public servant," Hillary Clinton said.

Sen. Bernie Sanders had a similar message: "While I differed with Justice Scalia's views and jurisprudence, he was a brilliant, colorful, and outspoken member of the Supreme Court."

Donald Trump called Scalia "a remarkable person and a brilliant Supreme Court justice."

Sen. Ted Cruz said Scalia "will go down as one of the few justices who single-handedly changed the course of legal history."

The fate of the many issues before the court is unclear. If the court ties in deciding a case, the decision of the appeals court remains in place.

In the current cases, a tie vote would mean that the race-conscious admissions plan at the University of Texas would remain in place. Obama's plan to shield millions of illegal immigrants from deportation would stay on hold.

A decision on the contraception requirements in the Affordable Care Act would be more complicated in the event of a tie. Most appeals courts that have considered the issue have ruled for the Obama administration. But one went the other way.

This article contains information from the Associated Press, the Washington Post, and staff writer Bob Fernandez.