HJR16-1014 Summary

• Colorado House and Senate jointly recognize Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, who died February 13, 2016, at age 79, as a distinguished jurist and defender of constitutional rights.

• Scalia was born March 11, 1936, in Trenton, New Jersey, graduated valedictorian from Georgetown University in 1957, attended Harvard Law School, and served 29 years 4 months on the Supreme Court after unanimous Senate confirmation in 1986.

• Resolution highlights Scalia's judicial philosophy of originalism, his prolific writings (54% of dissenting opinions and 26% of majority opinions during his tenure), and his influence on First Amendment, Second Amendment, Fourth Amendment, and Sixth Amendment jurisprudence.

• Resolution acknowledges Scalia's personal qualities including his devotion to family, Catholic faith, friendships with justices of opposing views (Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Elena Kagan), and his love of opera and hunting.

• Copies of the resolution shall be sent to Scalia's family, President Obama, Colorado Governor Hickenlooper, Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Nancy Rice, and Colorado's Congressional delegation.