Scalia Not Sure About Restoration of Constitution – It's Like ‘Frodo in the Lord of the Rings’

By Patrick BurkeNovember 5, 2012

Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia said he did not know if he was optimistic about seeing the U.S. Constitution restored, in the judicial arena, to its original intent and meaning, hinting that his skepticism was stronger “especially after last term" and that he sometimes felt like the character "Frodo" in the Lord of the Rings, fighting the good fight but not sure if he will win.  While discussing  his new book Reading Law at Stanford University on Oct. 19, Scalia was asked by the Hoover Institution’s Peter Robinson, “Reading Law, quote, ‘Originalism does not always provide an easy answer, or even a clear one. Originalism is not perfect. But it is more certain than any other criterion, and it is not too late to restore a strong sense of judicial fidelity to texts.’”    “So here’s the question,” said Robinson. “This book, for that matter your entire career, represents a sustained, determined effort at restoration. Are you optimistic? How’s the project coming?”

Scalia said, “That’s an unfair question, especially after last term [laughter]. I dissented in the last 6 cases announced last term. So I don’t know. I don’t know that I’m optimistic. The fight is worth fighting, win or lose – you know, [like] Frodo in the Lord of the Rings.’”   To Read More….