LIVE: America Pays Its Respects to Antonin Scalia
The body of the late Antonin Scalia, Supreme Court Associate Justice, lay in repose Friday in the Great Hall of the Supreme Court Building.
Beginning at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time, when the court opened its doors to the public, thousands of mourners, including court staff and members of Congress, streamed past Scalia’s flag-draped casket. It rests upon the Lincoln Catafalque, which was loaned to the court by Congress for the ceremony, and a 2007 portrait of Scalia by Nelson Shanks is on display nearby.
The pubic will be allowed to visit the court until 8 p.m. Eastern Time. PBS is providing a livestream of the activities at the Supreme Court Building.
Friday morning, the eight remaining Supreme Court justices attended a private ceremony led by Scalia’s son, Fr. Paul Scalia, in the Great Hall. Supreme Court police officers served as pallbearers while Scalia’s law clerks served as honorary pallbearers.
“As is the tradition, Justice Scalia’s law clerks will stand vigil by his side at the Court all day tomorrow and through the night,” Kannon Shanmugam, who clerked for Scalia, said in a public statement. Supreme Court police officers will also engaged in changing-of-the-guard ceremonies throughout the afternoon and evening.