Presidential candidate and members of Congress offered praise for Justice Antonin Scalia.
WASHINGTON — Republicans and Democrats Saturday both mourned the death of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.
Donald Trump: "Justice Scalia was a remarkable person and a brilliant Supreme Court justice, one of the best of all time," businessman Trump said. "His career was defined by his reverence for the Constitution and his legacy of protecting Americans' most cherished freedoms. He was a justice who did not believe in legislating from the bench, and he is a person whom I held in the highest regard and will always greatly respect his intelligence and conviction to uphold the Constitution of our country."
Jeb Bush: "We lost a great man whose principled service left our nation vastly better off," former Florida Gov. Bush said. "Justice Scalia was a brilliant defender of the rule of law -- his logic and wit were unparalleled, and his decisions were models of clarity and good sense."
Ted Cruz: "A champion of our liberties and a stalwart defender of the Constitution, he will go down as one of the few justices who single-handedly changed the course of legal history," Texas Sen. Cruz said. "As liberals and conservatives alike would agree, through his powerful and persuasive opinions, Justice Scalia fundamentally changed how courts interpret the Constitution and statutes, returning the focus to the original meaning of the text after decades of judicial activism."
Marco Rubio: "Justice Scalia was one of the most consequential Americans in our history and a brilliant legal mind who served with only one objective: to interpret and defend the Constitution as written," Florida Sen. Rubio said.
Leonard Lance: "Justice Scalia was a great patriot and dedicated public servant," said U.S. Rep. Lance (R-7th Dist.). "His intellect, wisdom and strict defense of our nation's Constitution will be his lasting legacy."
Chris Christie: "Justice Scalia was a Trenton-born New Jerseyan and the first Italian American to serve on the Supreme Court," Gov. Christie said. "He was an example and inspiration, and a leader we are proud to call a native son of New Jersey."
Bonnie Watson Coleman: "My thoughts and prayers are with the family of Justice Scalia at his difficult time," said U.S. Rep. Coleman (D-12th Dist.), whose district includes Scalia's native Trenton. "Justice Scalia served our nation at the highest level, and did so with great commitment. I hope that his friends and family find peace and comfort in their moment of grief."
Nancy Pelosi: "Whether or not you agreed with him, Justice Antonin Scalia served our nation with deep patriotism and distinction on the Supreme Court for nearly 30 years," said House Democratic Leader Pelosi of California. "He has been one of the strongest voices in the great American debate around our Constitution. He leaves behind a formidable record of jurisprudence, and a fierce articulation of his understanding of the Constitution."
Hillary Clinton: "My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Justice Scalia as they mourn his sudden passing," said former U.S. Secretary of State Clinton, who is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination. "I did not hold Justice Scalia's views, but he was a dedicated public servant who brought energy and passion to the bench."
Bernie Sanders: "While I differed with Justice Scalia's views and jurisprudence, he was a brilliant, colorful and outspoken member of the Supreme Court," said U.S. Sen. Sanders (I-Vt.) "My thoughts and prayers are with his family and his colleagues on the court who mourn his passing."
Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook