Influential conservative Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia died in West Texas, the U.S. Marshals Service said on Saturday. He was 79. Reaction to his death:

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts:

“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. We extend our deepest condolences to his wife Maureen and his family.”

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine:

“Justice Scalia was an American success story. His towering intellect led him to the highest court in the land where he was highly influential in the Court’s decisions. He was also known for his love of life, and even those who disagreed vigorously with him enjoyed his wit and convivial company. His passing is a loss to his family and friends, the Court, and our country.”

U.S. Sen. Angus King, I-Maine:

“My sympathies are with Justice Scalia’s family.”

U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin, R-2nd District:

“It is heartbreaking to hear the news today of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia’s passing. Justice Scalia served our Nation and the Supreme Court with loyalty and great integrity. We will all keep Justice Scalia’s family and loved ones in our prayers as we mourn the loss of a great American scholar.”

U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-1st District:

“Antonin Scalia was a man of immense intellect and a dedicated jurist who loved his work as a justice on the Supreme Court.  He was also a dedicated husband, father and grandfather who loved life.  My thoughts are with his family, colleagues and friends. President Obama should nominate a replacement immediately and the Senate should do their job of voting on his nominee.  It would be a disservice to the country to leave the seat vacant for almost a year until another president is elected.”

Texas Governor Greg Abbott:

“Justice Antonin Scalia was a man of God, a patriot, and an unwavering defender of the written Constitution and the Rule of Law. He was the solid rock who turned away so many attempts to depart from and distort the Constitution. His fierce loyalty to the Constitution set an unmatched example, not just for judges and lawyers, but for all Americans.”

Former President George W. Bush:

“Laura and I mourn the death of a brilliant jurist and important American, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. He was a towering figure and important judge on our Nation’s highest court. He brought intellect, good judgment, and wit to the bench, and he will be missed by his colleagues and our country.”

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada:

“There is no doubt Justice Antonin Scalia was a brilliant man. We had our differences and I disagreed with many of his opinions, but he was a dedicated jurist and public servant. I offer my condolences to his family.

“The President can and should send the Senate a nominee right away. With so many important issues pending before the Supreme Court, the Senate has a responsibility to fill vacancies as soon as possible. It would be unprecedented in recent history for the Supreme Court to go a year with a vacant seat. Failing to fill this vacancy would be a shameful abdication of one of the Senate’s most essential Constitutional responsibilities.”

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders:

“While I differed with Justice Scalia’s views and jurisprudence, he was a brilliant, colorful and outspoken member of the Supreme Court. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and his colleagues on the court who mourn his passing.”

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump:

“Justice Scalia was a remarkable person and a brilliant Supreme Court Justice, one of the best of all time. His career was defined by his reverence for the Constitution and his legacy of protecting Americans’ most cherished freedoms. He was a Justice who did not believe in legislating from the bench and he is a person whom I held in the highest regard and will always greatly respect his intelligence and conviction to uphold the Constitution of our country. My thoughts and prayers are with his family during this time.”

Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz:

“Today our Nation mourns the loss of one of the greatest Justices in history – Justice Antonin Scalia. A champion of our liberties and a stalwart defender of the Constitution, he will go down as one of the few Justices who single-handedly changed the course of legal history.

…And he authored some of the most important decisions ever, including District of Columbia v. Heller, which recognized our fundamental right under the Second Amendment to keep and bear arms. He was an unrelenting defender of religious liberty, free speech, federalism, the constitutional separation of powers, and private property rights. All liberty-loving Americans should be in mourning.

Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio:

“Justice Scalia was one of the most consequential Americans in our history and a brilliant legal mind who served with only one objective: to interpret and defend the Constitution as written. One of the greatest honors in my life was to attend oral arguments during Town of Greece v. Galloway and see Justice Scalia eloquently defend religious freedom. I will hold that memory forever. The next president must nominate a justice who will continue Justice Scalia’s unwavering belief in the founding principles that we hold dear.”

Related Stories