Page 20 - DESPA

A6
U.S. NEWSTuesday 23 February 2016
Scalia recalled as Supreme Court’s ‘man for all seasons’
MARK SHERMAN
SAM HANANEL
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — An-
tonin Scalia’s colleagues
honored the late U.S. Su-
preme Court justice Mon-
day in a manner he would
surely have approved, in
sharp exchanges and ag-
gressive questions during
the court’s first session since
Scalia’s death.
His black cloth-draped
chair next to Chief Justice
John Roberts was empty, a
visible reminder of Scalia’s
death on Feb. 13 at age
79. Roberts began the pro-
ceedings by remember-
ing Scalia as a friend and
colleague of “irrepressible
spirit.”
The justices first seemed re-
strained, understandably
sad that Scalia was gone
and facing a prolonged
period without a full com-
plement on the bench.
Scalia had been among
the most enthusiastic,
sometimes cutting, ques-
tioners.
But by the second of the
morning’s two cases, the
justices’ questions grew
more spirited and they at
times interrupted the advo-
cates and each other.
In particular, Justice Sonia
Sotomayor and Roberts
dueled over whether evi-
Obama sends Congress $1.9B request to combat Zika
ANDREW TAYLOR
KEVIN FREKING
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi-
dent Barack Obama Mon-
day sent lawmakers an of-
ficial $1.9 billion request to
combat the spread of the
Zika virus in Latin America
and the U.S.
He is also requesting flex-
ibility to use a limited por- had been designated for

This photo shows the Supreme Court building at sunset in Washington. Antonin Scalia’s colleagues emerged from the red vel-
honored the late U.S. Supreme Court justice Monday in a manner he would surely have approved, vet curtains behind their
in sharp exchanges and aggressive questions during the court’s first session since Scalia’s death. bench at 10 a.m. EST. But
the long-scheduled day for
(AP Photo/Jon Elswick) arguments took on added
poignancy because Scalia
dence of a crime should Does the valid warrant out- Roberts asked. was not there.
Roberts recounted Sca-
be thrown out of court if weigh the illegal stop? Or The other justices also took lia’s roots in New Jersey, his
graduation at the top of his
the police did something should the evidence found part in questioning during class at Georgetown Uni-
versity and his stellar per-
wrong or illegal in obtain- in the search be thrown two hours of arguments. formance at Harvard Law
School. As a top attorney
ing it. out of court because the Only Justice Clarence at the Justice Department,
Scalia argued his first and
“What stops us from be- person never should have Thomas, on the 10th anni- only case before the Su-
preme Court in 1976, Rob-
coming a police state?” been detained? versary of the last time he erts said.
“He prevailed, establishing
Sotomayor asked, if police Roberts suggested he asked a question at the a perfect record before
could routinely stop people would allow the evidence court, said nothing at all. the court,” Roberts said to
for no reason other than to to be used, and his ques- Two days after Thomas laughter.
Scalia became the high
check if the person has an tions focused on legitimate read from the New Testa- court’s 103rd justice in 1986
and wrote 282 majority
arrest warrant. Armed with reasons officers run name ment at Scalia’s funeral, opinions over the next 29 ½
years.
a warrant, police can then checks. with the rest of the court “He was also known on
occasion to dissent,” Rob-
make an arrest and search “Might it protect him when among the thousands erts said to more laughter.
Some of Scalia’s sharpest
for evidence of a crime. he’s walking up to a car?” of mourners, the justices language was reserved for
his many dissenting opin-
ions. The court will leave
Scalia’s chair in its place
on the bench until next
month. Only then do the
justices plan to switch seats
in line with their seniority
on the court. Justice An-
thony Kennedy is now the
longest-serving member
of the court, with 28 years
of experience, and will sit
tion of leftover funds pro- the Ebola crisis but remains moa. Travelers have also where Scalia sat.
vided in 2014 to fight Ebola “unobligated.” Consider- returned to the continen- President Barack Obama
to take on Zika, which has ation of a stand-alone Zika tal U.S. infected with the has vowed to nominate
been linked to severe birth request could prove cum- virus. a candidate to take Sca-
defects. Top House Re- bersome, especially in a So far, concerns over Zika lia’s seat, but Senate Re-
publicans told the White combative election year. have been far more re- publicans, backed by their
House last week that the Zika has been spreading strained than experienced party’s presidential con-
quickest way to get the through countries such during the Ebola scare. tenders, have pledged to
money to fight Zika would as Brazil, but is also being Voters’ fears regarding block anyone Obama puts
be to use some of the ap- transmitted by mosquitoes Ebola were seen as hurting forward. Republicans have
proximate $2.7 billion that in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Obama’s party in the 2014 said the choice should
Islands, and American Sa- midterm landslide.q await the next president in
2017.q