I know he was 79 years old, but I'm still kind of stunned by the news.
An El Paso source close to Justice Antonin Scalia tells ABC-7 that the 79-year-old died in his sleep last night after a day of quail hunting at Cibolo Creek Ranch outside of Marfa, Texas.
The Justice did not report feeling ill and retired to his room after dinner. The source, who was traveling with Scalia, told ABC-7 an El Paso priest has been called to Marfa.
Scalia was the longest-serving current Justice on the Supreme Court. He was appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1986.
Gov. Abbot from Texas has confirmed:
.@GovAbbott statement on death of Antonin Scalia pic.twitter.com/Y8NeuMWubm
— Evan Smith (@evanasmith) February 13, 2016
UPDATE:
In case anyone thought President Obama had a snowball's chance in hell of nominating a replacement, here's reality from a senior Senate staffer:
It also draws the contours of this year's election, not only with regard to the White House but also the Senate. This is what's at stake.
