2016 -- H 7652

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LC004987

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF THE HONORABLE ANTONIN

GREGORY SCALIA

     Introduced By: Representatives Giarrusso, DeSimone, Mattiello, Lancia, and Corvese

     Date Introduced: February 23, 2016

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, It is with deep sadness and regret that this House of Representatives has

learned of the passing of the Honorable Antonin Gregory Scalia, an extraordinary individual and

jurist, a conservative icon who transformed the bench, and the longest-serving Justice on the

United States Supreme Court; and

     WHEREAS, Born in Trenton, New Jersey, on March 11, 1936, Antonin Scalia was the

only child of Salvatore Eugene Scalia and Catherine Louise Scalia. He was the beloved husband

for over fifty-five years to Maureen McCarthy, a devout Catholic, and the father of nine children,

Ann Forrest, Eugene, John Francis, Catherine Elisabeth, Mary Clare, Paul David, Matthew,

Christopher James, and Margaret Jane; and

     WHEREAS, Justice Scalia attended the University of Fribourg, Switzerland and earned a

joint degree with Georgetown University, A.B. where he was Valedictorian and graduated summa

cum laude. He received his Bachelor of Laws from Harvard Law School, and a Sheldon

Fellowship from Harvard University; and

     WHEREAS, In 1961, Justice Scalia became an Associate at Jones, Day, Cockley &

Reavis in Cleveland, Ohio, and was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1962. From 1967-1974, he was a

Professor at the University of Virginia School of Law, and was admitted to the Virginia Bar in

1970. From 1971-1972, he served as General Counsel, Office of Telecommunications Policy,

Executive Office of President, and from 1972-1974, he was the Chairman of the Administrative

Conference of the United States, Washington. In 1974, he became the Assistant U.S. Attorney

General for the Office of Legal Counsel, and in 1977, he returned to academia as a visiting

scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, and subsequently served as a visiting professor at

Georgetown Law Center, a Law professor at the University of Chicago, and a visiting professor at

Stanford Law School; and

     WHEREAS, Nominated by President Ronald Reagan, Justice Scalia was sworn in as a

member of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on August 17,

1982, and on September 26, 1986, he became the first Italian-American Supreme Court Associate

Justice, when he filled the seat left by William Rehnquist, who became Chief Justice; and

     WHEREAS, Widely considered a conservative, Justice Scalia consistently voted in favor

of free speech. He was a strong opponent of abortion and affirmative action and was a strong

advocate of federalism and separation of powers. He believed "that judges should follow the

precise words of the Constitution and not apply a modern interpretation" and is perhaps best

known for his landmark decision protecting the right of an individual to possess a firearm at

home; and

     WHEREAS, Justice Scalia was widely-admired and "treasured" by his fellow Justices.

He left an indelible mark on the courts and our nation, and he will be profoundly missed; now,

therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby expresses our deepest sympathies on the passing of the Honorable

Antonin Gregory Scalia; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Maureen McCarthy Scalia and Family.

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