Members of the US Supreme Court paid their respects to their late colleague Antonin Scalia during a brief but sombre ceremony at the court yesterday.
The eight remaining justices and members of the Scalia family gathered in the court’s Great Hall, where Scalia will lie in repose for the day. His funeral is to be held today.
The casket, draped in a US flag, was carried up the courthouse’s grand marble stairs and into the hall by Supreme Court police officers in ceremonial dress with a group of former Scalia law clerks in attendance.
Several of the justices, particularly Elena Kagan, a liberal who was known to go on hunting trips with the staunchly conservative Scalia, looked emotional as they stood in a row while the casket was placed on a raised bier in front of them.
Chief Justice John Roberts, his hands clasped in front of him, bowed his head.
Father Paul Scalia, a Catholic priest who is one of Scalia’s nine children, delivered a prayer before the justices quietly filed away.
President Barack Obama is due to be among those paying respects later in the day, as will members of the public.
Scalia, appointed to the court by Republican president Ronald Reagan in 1986, died at a Texas hunting resort at age 79.
His family said he died of natural causes.
His death set the stage for a political showdown between the Democratic president and Republicans in the US Senate who are threatening to block any nominee put forward by Obama to fill Scalia’s vacancy.
The Senate must confirm any nominee.
An Obama appointment could tilt the conservative-leaning court to the left for the first time in decades.
A large entourage of Scalia family members, including his widow, Maureen, attended the ceremony.
A total of 98 former Scalia law clerks will take turns standing vigil during the day.
Obama will not attend Scalia’s funeral at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, a decision that provoked criticism from some conservatives.
Vice-President Joe Biden would represent the Obama administration at the funeral.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll has found that a majority of Americans believe it should be up to Obama to nominate the next US Supreme Court justice.
The White House has said Obama intends to do as the US Constitution requires and “move promptly” to nominate a successor.
The poll showed that 54% of Americans believed Obama should make the nomination.
The support overwhelmingly came from Democrats, with 81% saying they supported Obama nominating Scalia’s successor.
Among Republicans, only 27% said that they either strongly or somewhat supported the US president making the pick.
Democrats and Republican also had different priorities when it comes to picking a Supreme Court nominee, according to the poll.
A majority, or 67%, of Democrats said that they wanted someone pragmatic and willing to compromise, with 53% of Republicans saying they wanted someone ideologically pure.
Despite its polarising effect, the Supreme Court issue does not appear to be a priority issue for voters surveyed.
More Americans think that the executive and legislative branches of government wield greater influence than the judiciary, the poll showed, and fewer than 10% thought nominating justices to the high court was a presidential duty most relevant to them.
A third of those surveyed said they were not aware of Scalia’s death.
The poll of 1,108 adults, including 460 Democrats and 426 Republicans, was conducted from Tuesday to Thursday.
It had a credibility interval of about five percentage points.