Scalia
Scalia refers to Antonin Scalia (1936–2016), associate justice of the U.S.
Supreme Court known for his conservative originalist interpretation of the Constitution and sharp, combative writing style.
His name often appears in legal and political contexts as shorthand for textualist judicial philosophy: a Scalia-style reading of the Second Amendment.
The adjective Scalia-esque describes similarly aggressive or witty legal rhetoric.
Interpreting by founding-era meaning
- textualismInterpreting law literally
- dissentDisagreement with authority
- opinionSubjective personal belief
- interpretationAssigned meaning
constitution · framers · doctrine · precedent · statutory · amendment · federalist · majority
Shared seating surface
- justiceFair treatment under law
- robesLong loose outer garments
- judiciaryLaw-interpreting government branch
- courtroomJudicial proceedings chamber
docket · certiorari · petitioner · respondent · amicus · adjudication · appellate · nomination
Causing sharp division
- divisiveCausing sharp disagreement
- contentiousInclined toward disagreement
- outspokenFreely expressing opinions
- uncompromisingRefusing to yield ground
firebrand · provocative · combative · dissents · criticism · legacy · debate · confrontational
Clever, inventive humor
- sarcasmIrony used to mock
- acerbicSharp and biting
- sharp-tonguedGiven to cutting remarks
- colorfulFull of varied hues
quotable · memorable · forceful · biting · caustic · barbed · zingers · prose
Politically conservative faction
- traditionalistAdherent to established customs
- RepublicanGOP party member
- pro-lifeAgainst elective pregnancy termination
- federalismDivided governmental authority system
originalism
Interpreting by founding-era meaning
- textualismInterpreting law literally
- dissentDisagreement with authority
- opinionSubjective personal belief
interpretation · constitution · framers · doctrine · precedent · statutory · amendment · federalist · majority · concurrence
bench
Shared seating surface
- justiceFair treatment under law
- robesLong loose outer garments
- judiciaryLaw-interpreting government branch
courtroom · docket · certiorari · petitioner · respondent · amicus · adjudication · appellate · nomination · confirmation
polarizing
Causing sharp division
- divisiveCausing sharp disagreement
- contentiousInclined toward disagreement
- outspokenFreely expressing opinions
uncompromising · firebrand · provocative · combative · dissents · criticism · legacy · debate · confrontational
wit
Clever, inventive humor
- sarcasmIrony used to mock
- acerbicSharp and biting
- sharp-tonguedGiven to cutting remarks
colorful · quotable · memorable · forceful · biting · caustic · barbed · zingers · prose · argle-bargle
right-wing
Politically conservative faction
- traditionalistAdherent to established customs
- RepublicanGOP party member
- pro-lifeAgainst elective pregnancy termination
federalism · Reagan · Catholic
ScaliaRuth Bader Ginsburg
Thurgood Marshall · Sonia Sotomayor · Earl Warren · Warren Court · judicial activism
- bathroom scaleDevice measuring body weight
- scale backReduce in extent
- scale downReduce proportionally in size
- scale upIncrease proportionally
- scale modelProportionally reduced reproduction
- pay scaleEarnings hierarchy by position