Saturday night from the White House, President Barack Obama delivered a statement on the sudden death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, 79. Obama said, “Good evening, everybody. For almost 30 years, Justice Antonin Scalia was a larger than life presence on the bench. Brilliant legal mind with an energetic style, incisive wit. He influenced lawyers and students and profoundly shaped the legal landscape. He will no doubt be remembered as one of the most consequential judges and thinkers to be on the Supreme Court. Justice Scalia dedicated his life to the cornerstone of our democracy, The rule of law. Tonight we honor his extraordinary service to our nation and remember one of the towering legal figures of our time. “Antonin Scalia was born in Trenton, New Jersey, to an Italian immigrant family. After graduating from Georgetown University and Harvard Law School, he worked at a law firm and taught law before entering a life of public service. He rose from assistant attorney general for the office of legal counsel, to the judge on the D.C. circuit court to associate justice of the Supreme Court. A devout Catholic, he was a proud father of nine children and grandfather to many