Scalia: 'I Am Not a Nut'
If he was nominated to the high court today, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia says he may not win confirmation because the public expects judges to rewrite the Constitution rather than interpret it narrowly based on original intent.
Scalia, who was confirmed 98-0 in 1986, made the remarks while speaking to students at Roger Williams University law school, the Associated Press reports.
“The most important thing is whether this person will write the new Constitution that you like,” Scalia is quoted saying about the current confirmation process. “If the court’s rewriting the Constitution, it’s an enormously powerful political body – and its selection will be done in a political fashion.”
In a Q&A with students, Scalia said it was dangerous for interpretations to evolve according to a judge’s opinion.
“I am a textualist, I am an originalist. I am not a nut,” Scalia said to laughter.
The Wall Street Journal Law Blog noted that Scalia was to continue his road show Wednesday with a C-SPAN appearance. He was featured in the network’s Students and Leaders series.
The justice hosted suburban Washington, D.C.’s Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology at the Supreme Court and C-SPAN covered the event.
More on Scalia’s Road Tour:
Scalia Disturbed About Church-State Separation ‘Lie’
Scalia Continues Media Blitz, Tells Students ‘I am not a Moralist-in-Chief’
