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Antonin Scalia, a sitting U.S. Supreme Court Justice, has died:
US Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia - one of most conservative members of the high court - has died. Justice Scalia's death could shift the balance of power on the US high court, allowing President Barack Obama to add a fifth liberal justice to the court. The court's conservative majority has recently stalled major efforts by the Obama administration on climate change and immigration.
Justice Scalia, 79, was appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1986. He died in his sleep early on Saturday while in West Texas for [a] hunting trip, the US Marshall service said. Justice Scalia was one of the most prominent proponents of "originalism" - a conservative legal philosophy that believes the US Constitution has a fixed meaning and does not change with the times.
Justice Scalia's death is, unsurprisingly, now being widely reported.
From the San Antonio Express News:
According to a report, Scalia arrived at the ranch on Friday and attended a private party with about 40 people. When he did not appear for breakfast, a person associated with the ranch went to his room and found a body.
[...] The U.S. Marshal Service, the Presidio County sheriff and the FBI were involved in the investigation. Officials with the law enforcement agencies declined to comment.
A federal official who asked not to be named said there was no evidence of foul play and it appeared that Scalia died of natural causes.
A gray Cadillac hearse pulled into the ranch last Saturday afternoon. The hearse came from Alpine Memorial Funeral Home.
Most major news outlets are covering this story, including CNN [video autoplays], The Washington Post, The New York Times, and NBC.
(Score: 2) by darnkitten on Sunday February 14 2016, @01:28AM
Does the flag on a public building go to half-staff?
I saw the flag outside the SCOTUS building is at half-staff, but, as it is the weekend, and as I seem to have misplaced the bookmark for US flag proclamations, I don't know whether I need to lower my building's flag or not. Anyone have a reliable site for US flag proclamations or know the protocol for a Supreme Court Justice?
Please, no replies on whether or not Justice Scalia "deserves it" to this post--I'm just asking for a point of protocol, and I'm sure one of my fellow Soylentils either knows the answer or can direct me to it.
Thanks in advance!
(Score: 2) by fliptop on Sunday February 14 2016, @01:48AM
Only the president or a state governor [usflag.org] can order it.
To be oneself, and unafraid whether right or wrong, is more admirable than the easy cowardice of surrender to conformity
(Score: 2) by darnkitten on Sunday February 14 2016, @02:16AM
Yes--I am aware of that--but I lost some of my bookmarks, and can't find my usual link to see if the President has issued a proclamation yet, as one would assume a Supreme Court Justice would be one of the "principal figures of the United States Government" mentioned in your link...
There are a couple of places that track half-staff proclamations. I still have my bookmark for State proclamations, but lost the Federal one I used.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 14 2016, @04:26AM
The protocol is to do as you wish because it is a (still nominally) free country.
(Score: 2) by curunir_wolf on Sunday February 14 2016, @01:35PM
I am a crackpot