CORBETT

Former Governor Tom Corbett released the following statement regarding the passing of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.

“During my tenure as Governor, one of the greatest honors I had was forging a friendship with Justice Antonin Scalia. Justice Scalia will go down in our nation’s history as one of the brightest minds to ever serve on the Supreme Court, an unapologetic defender of the U.S. Constitution and someone I had an incredible amount of respect for regarding the principled opinions and decisions he authored.

“I was fortunate enough to visit with Justice Scalia in his chambers when I invited him to attend the ceremony in Gettysburg to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the dedication of the cemetery at which Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address. Justice Scalia spoke at that ceremony and his words were inspiring and illustrated his deep love of country and the United States Constitution.

“Susan and I send our thoughts and prayers to Justice Scalia’s wife, family and the many who loved him.”

BIDEN

Vice President Joe Biden provided the following comments on the passing of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.

“Jill and I send our deepest condolences to Maureen and the entire Scalia family on the loss of their beloved husband, father and grandfather.

“Justice Scalia and I had fundamental disagreements about how the Supreme Court interprets the Constitution, but we shared a belief that sharp debates, tough questions and deep respect for the adversarial process was an essential part of our judicial system and our democracy.

“That’s how our rule of law- forged with the deep principles and convictions of justices, and laid out in majority decisions and minority dissents- becomes the model for the world.

“For the country, Justice Scalia will be remembered as one of our most influential justices, who inspired and challenged generations of students, clerks, lawyers and judges. And for so many, he will be remembered as a mentor, dear friend and a man devoted to his faith and his family, who will miss him most of all, and who we will keep in our prayers.”

WOLF

Governor Tom Wolf, in accordance with the Presidential Proclamation has ordered all United States and commonwealth flags in the Capitol Complex and at all commonwealth facilities to fly at half-staff to honor Justice Antonin Scalia.

Scalia, who served three decades on the bench of the Supreme Court, died Feb. 13.

“Flags shall be lowered to half-staff and remain lowered until interment,” Wolf said.

“All Pennsylvanians are invited to participate in this tribute.”