Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia told an audience at Santa Clara University in Silicon Valley that the Supreme Court is “liberal,” not conservative–and that its views herald “the destruction of our democratic system.”
The San Francisco Chronicle noted that Scalia also blasted the notion of a “living Constitution,” one whose meaning changes over time for different circumstances–as interpreted by judges with their own personal biases.
“For Pete’s sake, [the Constitution] is a legal document…It means what it says and it doesn’t mean what it doesn’t say….People don’t say anymore, ‘It’s unconstitutional.” Instead, anything you hate should be prohibited and anything you love should be supported by the Constitution. I don’t know where this comes from,” he said, according to the San Jose Mercury News.
The location had some historical and judicial resonance. Scalia joined the Court’s ruling in Citizens United, which held that the First Amendment protected political speech by corporations (and unions). The ruling is partly rooted in the 1886 case Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad Co., which established “corporate personhood.”
At least one liberal critic encouraged others to protest Scalia’s presence.
Scalia is coming to Santa Clara University. A good opportunity to protest him and his backward thinking. https://twitter.com/ncadp/status/659010448155475968 …
— Nikki Pope (@Nixflixpix)
Scalia is coming to Santa Clara University. A good opportunity to protest him and his backward thinking. https://t.co/3girJz9UYx
— Nikki Pope (@Nixflixpix) October 27, 2015
However, no demonstrations were reported.
Though the Court is regarded by liberal critics as “conservative,” Scalia said it is not, given its willingness to invent new rules and liberties according to the majority whim.
“It’s the destruction of our democratic system,” he warned.
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