Legendary Justice Antonin Scalia Passes At 79 After Serving America For Three Decades Justice Antonin Scalia was one of the best ever to serve on the Supreme Court. After 3 decades of hard work serving our country, Scalia was found in his bed unresponsive. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, the leading conservative voice on the high court, has died at the age of 79, a government source and a family friend told CNN on Saturday. His death set off an immediate debate about whether President Barack Obama should fill the seat in an election year. Obama said Saturday night that he plans to nominate a replacement, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the nomination should wait until the next president comes into office while top Democrat Harry Reid called for the seat to be filled right away. Scalia died in his sleep during a visit to Texas. A government official said Scalia went to bed Friday night and told friends he wasnt feeling well. He didnt get up for breakfast on Saturday morning, and the group he was with for a hunting trip left without him. Someone at the ranch went in to check on him and found him unresponsive. In a statement, Chief Justice John Roberts said he and other justices were saddened to hear of Scalias passing. We send our prayers to the family of Justice Scalia. He will be remembered forever. Do you think we should wait until Obama is out of office to find a new judge? 