Tester, Zinke, Daines Remember Justice Scalia

The members of Montana’s congressional delegation each offered prayers Saturday to the family of Associate U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, expressing gratitude for his three decades sitting on the nation’s highest court.

Scalia died Saturday morning of a heart attack while on a hunting trip at the Cibolo Creek Ranch in western Texas.

In a press release soon after the news broke, Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., expressed his condolences to Scalia’s family.

“Sharla and I send our thoughts and prayers to the entire Scalia

family during this time of mourning,” Tester said.

Scalia was appointed to the U.S Supreme Court by President Ronald Reagan in 1986, filling a vacancy created when Reagan nominated then-Associate Justice William Rehnquist to be Chief Justice after Warren Berger announced his retirement.

“In reflecting on the life of Justice

Scalia, I am appreciative of his service to our nation,” Tester said.

His colorful writing and staunch advocacy of strict constructionist legal theory won him the jeers of liberals and the admiration of conservatives.

“His unwavering defense and profound understanding of the Constitution were truly astounding,” said Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., in a post on his congressional

Facebook page.

Zinke went on to offer his condolences to Scalia’s family.

On his Senate Twitter account and in a press release, Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., called Scalia “an American hero” and recalled how he met Scalia, who used to come to Montana in the summer to fly fish.

“Our nation has lost a giant of freedom who leaves behind a legacy of tirelessly defending our Constitution and the principles that make our nation great,” Daines said. “Justice Scalia was a man of faith and a brilliant legal mind who dedicated himself to our country with a servant’s heart.”

Alee Lockman, a spokesperson for Daines, told the Great Falls Tribune Saturday that Daines believes it should be the next president and not President Barack Obama who should nominate Scalia’s successor.

“He looks forward to a thoughtful consideration of Scalia’s replacement and believes the American people’s voices must be heard in this process,” Lockman said.

A similar position has been shared by many Republicans including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., along with many of the party’s presidential candidates including Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, whom Daines endorsed for president last October.

Democrats, however, argue that under the Constitution it is the president’s obligation to nominate and the Senate’s responsibility to confirm or reject nominees to the Supreme Court.