Multiple media sources are reporting the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia on a hunting trip in Texas.
The San Antonio Express-News first reported that Scalia, 79, was found dead at the Cibolo Creek Ranch, a resort in the Big Bend region south of Marfa, where he was staying as a guest.
U.S. District Judge Fred Biery confirmed Scalia's death to the newspaper.
"I was told it was this morning," Biery said of Scalia's death. "It happened on a ranch out near Marfa. As far as the details, I think it's pretty vague right now as to how," he told the San Antonio Express-News. "My reaction is it's really unfortunate with any death. And now, politically, in the presidential cycle we're in my educated guess is nothing will happen before the next president is elected."
The San Antonio paper quoted a statement released Saturday by Texas Gov. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott , who called Scalia a man of God, a patriot and an "unwavering defender of the written Constitution."
"He was the solid rock who turned away so many attempts to depart from and distort the Constitution," Abbott said. "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 was nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1986 by President Ronald Reagan.
Stay with the Times Free Press for more information on this developing story.