conservative u.s. supreme court justice antonin scalia die set major political showdown president barack obama republican-controlled senate replace jurist months presidential election follow reaction scalia death almost 30 years justice antonin nino scalia larger-than-life presence bench brilliant legal mind energetic style incisive wit colorful opinions plan fulfill constitutional responsibilities nominate successor due time plenty time senate fulfill responsibility give person fair hear timely vote responsibilities take seriously everyone big one party democracy institution justice scalia dedicate professional life make sure continue function beacon justice founder envision tower figure important judge nation high court bring intellect good judgment wit bench miss colleagues country extraordinary individual jurist admire treasure colleagues pass great loss court country loyally serve american people‎ voice selection next supreme court justice therefore vacancy fill new president president send senate nominee right away many important issue pending supreme court senate responsibility fill vacancies soon possible would unprecedented recent history supreme court go year vacant seat fail fill vacancy would shameful abdication one senate essential constitutional responsibilities republican senator chuck grassley senate judiciary committee chairman give huge divide country fact president others make bone goal use court circumvent congress push agenda make sense defer american people elect new president select next supreme court justice senator patrick leahy rank democrat senate judiciary committee supreme court unite state important democracy understaffed partisan reason february president senate get work without delay nominate consider confirm next justice serve supreme court unless obama find consensus choice next president pick replacement justice scalia ... lose election hillary clinton go pick somebody pick tell every conservative expect lose election still get way think late nominate someone obama every right nominate senate evaluate nomination ... decide whether move forward it hope president promptly nominate someone strong intellect integrity win bipartisan support work vigorously member judiciary committee achieve confirmation republicans senate campaign trail call justice scalia seat remain vacant dishonor constitution senate constitutional responsibility abdicate partisan political reason differ justice scalia view jurisprudence brilliant colorful outspoken member supreme court justice believe legislate bench person hold high regard always greatly respect intelligence conviction uphold constitution country liberals conservatives alike would agree powerful persuasive opinions justice scalia fundamentally change court interpret constitution statutes return focus original mean text decades judicial activism one great honor life attend oral arguments town greece v. galloway see justice scalia eloquently defend religious freedom logic wit unparalleled decisions model clarity good sense often say favorite justice take constitution responsibility judge interpret correctly utmost seriousness ohio governor john kasich republican presidential candidate death serious loss nation court essential principled force conservative think model others follow imperative senate allow president obama diminish legacy try nominate individual would carry wish subvert people expect nominate replacement senate refuse take policy standpoint lot knotty decisions might 5-4 tie assume senate act low court rule stand mean immigration example fifth circuit rule invalidate president order may prevail reaction death u.s. justice scalia