Government

Justice Scalia Wants You to Know: I Own an iPod and iPad

WASHINGTON (AP) — Justice Antonin Scalia seems solidly old-fashioned. He‘s devoted to the Constitution’s original meaning, prefers the Roman Catholic Mass in Latin and opposes TV cameras in the Supreme Court.

But the 74-year-old Scalia wants it known that he owns an iPod and an iPad and does so much work on his computer that he “can hardly write in longhand anymore.”

Scalia revealed his embrace of modern technology at a Thursday dinner of the conservative Federalist Society, which he helped launch nearly 30 years ago to combat perceived liberal bias on the nation’s law school faculties.

The Supreme Court justice was not so much the after-dinner speaker as the entertainment, joining CBS News correspondent Jan Crawford for an hourlong conversation in front of 1,400 adoring conservatives.

Scalia’s iPod is filled with classical and operatic tunes, music he put there himself.

The iPad has been useful for storing the voluminous legal briefs that are the guts of every high court case. Scalia said he no longer has to — and here he employed the precise legal term — “schlep the briefs around.”

Said the longest-serving justice: “It’s a brave new world.”

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Yet that great invention of the 20th century, television, still has no place on Scalia’s Supreme Court.

He offered several rationales for excluding cameras from the court’s argument sessions, which the C-SPAN cable network has offered to air gavel to gavel.

Almost all the court’s cases are dull, he said, asserting that there would not be widespread interest in watching arguments about pensions, bankruptcy or railroad taxes.

But in the court’s heated cases about abortion, school prayer, gay rights and other high-profile topics, he said interest would be so great that broadcasters would take snippets from the arguments and air them out of context.

Scalia said he thinks the court is well served by its aloofness relative to Congress and the president. “Familiarity breeds contempt,” he said. “The fact that the court is somewhat removed is a good thing.”

On a practical level, he said he expects congressional pressure to allow cameras to diminish with the departure of Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, who lost his Democratic primary bid for re-election this year. Specter was the “major stimulator” for legislation to open up the court to cameras, Scalia said.

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Not that Scalia wouldn’t be good on television. His biting wit and good comic timing are made for the medium.

Those qualities are often on display in the courtroom, for those able to watch Supreme Court arguments in person. In his opinions, Scalia is a clear and precise writer who doesn’t mince words or spare his ideological allies when he disagrees with their approach or outcome.

He might once have had visions of being chief justice, but now acknowledges that serving as chief wouldn’t be as much fun.

William Rehnquist served 14 years on the court before becoming chief justice at the same time Scalia joined in 1986. In his former role, Rehnquist “was a shin-kicker,” Scalia said. “He wrote sharp, combative dissents.”

Once he became chief justice, Rehnquist moderated his views for the good of the court, although he remained among the more conservative members.

So Scalia will serve out his time as the court’s senior justice, which he became when John Paul Stevens retired in June.

Scalia was 50 when he was nominated by President Ronald Reagan and confirmed by the Senate 98-0 in 1986. He once said he would retire in 2001 at age 65, but he clearly enjoys the job — and being on the winning side of most of the conservative-leaning’s court 5-4 decisions — too much to retire.

“I will leave the minute I think I’ve lost a step,” Scalia said.

Comments (28)

  • fastash
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 11:25pm

    1)Even if C-Span may be boring and ‘familiarity breeds contempt’ we the American people have every right to watch what the enforcers of the Supreme Law of the Land say and interpret the Constitution.
    2) As a public servant he should know that all politicians and law officers breed contempt. It is part of his job he should be prepared to hear contempt, come to think of it we should be ready too.
    3) if people are dependent on one broadcaster then their fault no one should ever decide for us what our decisions are.

    Report Post »  
  • Elura cookoo girl
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 8:24pm

    that was scary when he said its a brave new world

    Report Post » Elura cookoo girl  
  • DonoRomantico
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 7:03pm

    Groovy

    Report Post »  
  • lynnee
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 12:24pm

    If I ever had to stand in front of any court of man, I would pray for mercy to have a judge like Judge Anthony Scalia !

    Report Post »  
  • Cincinnatus Dogood
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 10:49am

    Scalia get off the dime and put Obama up on charges. You loafers are ruining the country.
    Its your job, do it.

    Report Post »  
  • independentvoteril
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 7:13am

    My sister is a liberal and even SHE doesn’t want to see the SC move to the left.. (go figure).. I hope Scalia serves another 20 years..

    Report Post » independentvoteril  
  • EP46
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 6:41am

    I watched Chief Justice Roberts on C-span talking about the Court and answering questions from law students. It was very interesting. I would like to see some cases televised. As Justice Scalia said, maybe not all, but some of the most controversial ones. This would be a great way to show how the Court works and give citizens a chance to see if the Justices serve as they stated during their congressional hearings. Ooooops ‘serve as they stated’….guess that is why we won’t see them.

    Report Post »  
  • Elvis77
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 2:54am

    the edition of more liberal judges terrifies me more than anything else, because they can essentially change the entire course of the nation and make us into a Socialist nation like in Europe.

    Report Post » Elvis77  
  • Rob_M
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 2:53am

    Why exactly are we supposed to care about his personal gadgets?

    Report Post » Rob_M  
    • Cincinnatus Dogood
      Posted on November 21, 2010 at 10:54am

      Scalia dosnt care. We are going to hell in a handbasket. Remove Obama not an NBC you fools. Do it now.

      Report Post »  
  • Psychosis
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 2:10am

    scary thought what would happen if dumbo was able to insert another liberal judge in there if this guy retired or “something” in the next two yrs. all those 5-4 wins for conservatives would be losses in the future. i wish you well and long life Scalia

    Report Post » Psychosis  
    • cheezwhiz
      Posted on November 21, 2010 at 2:18am

      Justices Scalia and Thomas should get themselves food-tasters , methinks

      Report Post » cheezwhiz  
    • SaintMichael
      Posted on November 21, 2010 at 2:21am

      Illegal immigrants, drug users, robbers, gang members and all other manner of law breakers continue to live their lives, and indeed live them in a semi-normal fashion while breaking a great many laws in the process.

      Just because the USSC and the Gov ‘outlaw’ one of my human rights, doesn’t mean I will stop using said right.

      Report Post »  
  • eteme
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 1:57am

    Let’s put 2 and 2 together …..for everyone …there is a few companies out there that are using hiring questions that relate to I-phones and “smart” phones…A couple of these so called companies are filtering prospects based on what phone they own. I would suggest looking at some of the HC places for hiring questions they are asking certain prospective candidates for jobs…

    I bet there is someone out there that was asked as a first interview question…Do you own an Iphone or Smart phone…the applicant replied…”NO, I can’t afford one because I am looking for a job”…the hiring person then said.. “Thank you for your time, that concludes the interview.”

    Now you tell me what the hiring manager based their decision on???

    Report Post »  
  • Pup2818
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 1:55am

    M31sailor –You’re right about that, the Constitution is the most important!

    I like Scalia’s style: I don’t watch TV (I have GB on podcast) and I have classic novels and music on my iPad. I have read supreme court cases online.

    Report Post »  
  • SaintMichael
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 1:46am

    Percieved bias. The job, note it is not a damn profession you self stroking types, is full of liberals and why I chose to walk away into manufacturing after law school.

    I couldn’t stand the slime on me after subjecting myself through that indoctrination – which by the way as much easier than any undergrand course I took.

    Report Post »  
  • cheezwhiz
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 12:42am

    Not that Scalia wouldn’t be good on television. His biting wit and good comic timing are made for the medium.

    ————————————–

    I’d love to see what KD Lang and J Lo will do with cameras on !!

    ( thats Kagan and Sotomayor , haha)

    Report Post » cheezwhiz  
  • CheeezeWiz
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 12:35am

    It’s all “perceived” until it’s actually happening…then it’s all “Nothing to see here…move along move along.”.

    Report Post »  
    • cheezwhiz
      Posted on November 21, 2010 at 12:37am

      Hey ….
      *waves*

      Report Post » cheezwhiz  
    • quiet little lamb
      Posted on November 21, 2010 at 12:52am

      “broadcasters would take snippets from the arguments and air them out of context.”

      True, but I still believe government should be open to the people. I want the option of watching the boring stuff. I trust no one in govt. these days and i want to watch them as often as i can! Anyone wanna pay me full-time to watch c-span? actually nevermind. i think i would wind up shooting myself

      Report Post » quiet little lamb  
  • thepatriotdave
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 12:12am

    “…to combat perceived liberal bias on the nation’s law school faculties.”

    PERCEIVED? You have got to be joking. Oh, now I get it, this is an AP story.

    PatriotShops.com

    Report Post » thepatriotdave  
    • Exrepublisheep
      Posted on November 21, 2010 at 12:31am

      THAT”S all you got out of that?

      Exrepublisheep  
    • thepatriotdave
      Posted on November 21, 2010 at 12:44am

      Exrepublisheep,

      Ok I’ll bite. What did you get out of that?

      PatriotShops.com

      Report Post » thepatriotdave  
    • Exrepublisheep
      Posted on November 21, 2010 at 12:55am

      Insight on why the court doesn’t want cameras, that Scalia, even him, uses up to date tech (which I found humurous) and some reason as to why he tilts to the right.

      Exrepublisheep  
    • M31Sailor
      Posted on November 21, 2010 at 1:00am

      All I would like to know is if all of these judges have copy’s of the United States Constitution and read it often. Especially these new tokens

      Report Post » M31Sailor  
    • snowleopard3200 {mix art}
      Posted on November 21, 2010 at 1:33am

      So if the Supreme Court comes onto C-span will Scalia start singing “It’s a whole new world…?”

      http://www.artinphoenix.com/gallery/grimm

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • Dustyluv
      Posted on November 21, 2010 at 2:12am

      I would love to have the phone number of that iPhone to call his sorry a@@ and tell him to read the Constitution just ONCE! He could not have possibly read it!

       
    • M31Sailor
      Posted on November 21, 2010 at 10:13am

      Dusty
      Justice Scalia is one of the wisest SCJ we ever have had. You should be aiming at THE SODA JERK and the SOFTBALL PLAYER Have a great Thanksgiving
      Sailor

      Report Post » M31Sailor  

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