Antonin Scalia

System Title: The Textual Engine
Appointed By & Year: Ronald Reagan (1986)
Defining Legacy: Single-handedly transformed American jurisprudence by reviving Textualism and Originalism into mainstream legal debate, widely known for his sharp, highly influential dissents. The judicial counterpart and friend of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Key System Updates (Major Cases):
- United States v. Lopez (1995) | Joined the majority to curb federal legislative power, ruling that Congress exceeded its authority under the Commerce Clause.
- McDonald v. Chicago (2010) | Voted to selectively incorporate the 2nd Amendment individual right against state and local governments through the 14th Amendment’s Due Process Clause.
Core Judicial Philosophy: Strict Textualism & Originalism — Held that the Constitution should be interpreted according to the public meaning of its text at the time it was adopted, rejecting legislative intent or evolving standards.
Signature Move: “The Constitution is not a living document. It’s a dead, dead, dead document. … Its words mean what they meant when they were written.”