President Barack Obama delivered remarks Saturday evening following the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia in which he stated that he intends to nominate a successor and “that today is a time to remember Justice Scalia’s legacy.”
“I plan to fulfill my Constitutional responsibilities to nominate a successor in due time,” said Obama. He continued: “There will be plenty of time for me to do so and for the Senate to fulfill it’s responsibility to give that person a fair hearing and a timely vote. These are responsibilities that I take seriously, as should everyone. They are bigger then one party, they are about our democracy, they are about the institution to which Justice Scalia dedicated his professional life and making sure it continues to function as the beacon of justice the Founders envisioned.” (RELATED: Mitch McConnell Rules Out Scalia Replacement Under Obama)
Obama paid tribute to Scalia by saying, “He will no doubt be remembered as one of the most consequential judges and thinkers to serve 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.”