The late US Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia's name is commonly pronounced /ænˈtoʊnɪn ˈskæliə/. The first name, Antonin, is pronounced with stress on the second syllable, and has an "ah" sound in the first syllable followed by a long "o" in the second. The last name, Scalia, has stress on the first syllable and is pronounced with a short "a" sound followed by a soft "s" sound, a "k" sound, and an "ee-uh" sound at the end.
Antonin Scalia was an American jurist and legal scholar who served as an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of the United States from 1986 until his death in 2016. Born on March 11, 1936, in Trenton, New Jersey, Scalia is widely recognized as one of the most influential and conservative justices in the history of the Supreme Court.
As a strict textualist and originalist, Scalia adhered to the principle of interpreting the Constitution based on its original public meaning at the time of its adoption. He believed in the importance of the separation of powers and the limited role of the judiciary in interpreting the law. Scalia was known for his sharp-witted and eloquent writing style, often deploying scathing dissents to make his conservative legal perspectives known.
Throughout his tenure, Scalia was a consistent advocate for a more limited federal judiciary, championing the rights of the individual states. He notably opposed the expansion of legal protections for marginalized groups, including LGBT individuals, and was a vocal critic of the Court's decision to uphold the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare.
Scalia's influential legacy extends beyond his jurisprudence. He fostered a greater appreciation for originalism and constitutional interpretation as a whole and was revered by many conservatives for his unwavering commitment to conservative principles. While his tenure on the Supreme Court was not without controversy, the impact of his legal opinions and his vibrant personality continue to shape the landscape of American jurisprudence.