U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia dead at 79
WASHINGTON -- Antonin Scalia, the influential conservative and most provocative member of the Supreme Court, has died.
He was 79.
The U.S. Marshals Service in Washington confirmed Scalia's death at a private residence in the Big Bend area of West Texas.
The service's spokeswoman, Donna Sellers, says Scalia had retired for the evening and was found dead Saturday morning when he did not appear for breakfast.
Following the news of Justice Scalia's passing, Texas Governor Abbott released the following statement:
"Justice Antonin Scalia was a man of God, a patriot, and an unwavering defender of the written Constitution and the Rule of Law. He was the solid rock who turned away so many attempts to depart from and distort the Constitution. His fierce loyalty to the Constitution set an unmatched example, not just for judges and lawyers, but for all Americans. We mourn his passing, and we pray that his successor on the Supreme Court will take his place as a champion for the written Constitution and the Rule of Law. Cecilia and I extend our deepest condolences to his family, and we will keep them in our thoughts and prayers."
Scalia is the longest-serving justice on the nation's highest court, having served 29 years.
He was appointed to the bench by President Ronald Reagan in 1986.
This story is developing and will be updated