Seattle attorney Jeffrey Needle said he was stunned when he heard Antonin Scalia is dead.
"I don't think anyone was expecting it," said Needle. "As far as I understood, Justice Scalia was in good health."
His death, said Needle, is momentous.
"Like him or not, agree with him or not, he was an enormous intellectual on the court," said Needle. "And he had lots and lots of influence. His writings were read by everybody and influenced many. I kidded with you on the phone that I could feel the gravitational shock waves from here. It's a seismic event. It truly is."
The effect of his death is likely to be felt for some time.
Scalia's unexpected demise, said Needle, means there will likely be a four-four ideological split on a number of important cases the Supreme Court has agreed to decide this year.
And then there are the political ramifications.
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"Regardless who they appoint," predicted Needle. "It's unlikely they'll appoint anyone who is more conservative and more vocal and more influential on conservative issues than Scalia has been."
He also predicts Scalia's death will be an important factor in the presidential campaign right until Election Day.
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Cox Media Group
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