Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts Remembers Antonin Scalia

Chief Justice John Roberts released a statement on behalf of the Supreme Court on the death of Associate Justice Antonin Scalia Saturday.

"On behalf of the Court and retired Justices, I am saddened to report that our colleague Justice Antonin Scalia has passed away," Roberts said. "He was an extraordinary individual and jurist, admired and treasured by his colleagues. His passing is a great loss to the Court and the country he so loyally served. We extend our deepest condolences to his wife Maureen and his family."

Scalia was found dead at a ranch in West Texas on Saturday. He appears to have died in his sleep of natural causes, according to reports .

His passing opens up a vacancy on the nation's narrowly divided Supreme Court with less than a year left in President Barack Obama 's term.

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