... I like about both Thomas and
Scalia. Strict Constitutionalists have my admiration.
Well, that kind of leaves out Scalia. He's a strict Constitutionalist only when it is convenient to be so.
In April 2004 --
... AP sent reporter Denise Grones to Hattiesburg, Mississippi, to cover a speech by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. She ended up being the unwilling subject of her own story.
As Scalia spoke, a United States Marshal stepped in front of Denise and demanded that she turn over the digital recording she was making to back up her notes. She tried to say no, but the marshal ignored her and erased Justice Scalia’s words from memory on the spot.
Grones has said that he "right" -- and make no mistake, the press had a right to cover Scalia's speech -- her right to cover Scalia's speech was trampled on when Scalia pointed her out to the US Marshal Service. That is when the marshal confiscated her PROTECTED recording.
Fast forward, 3-years to May 2007 --
The investigation began after a marshal seized the tapes of Hattiesburg American reporter Antoinette Konz and Associated Press reporter Denise Grones.
The marshal said she acted at the direction of Scalia.
The Hattiesburg American and the Associated Press later successfully sued the Marshals Service. Scalia also sent written apologies to the reporters, saying the marshal had not acted at his direction.
Perhaps Scalia is less a "Consitutionalist", and less honest than he would have us believe. Unless, of course, you believe both the Marshal and the AP reported are lying.