BREAKING NEWS > Supreme Court Justice ANTONIN SCALIA DEAD at 79 y-o: At Texas Ranch... Told Friends He Wasn't Feeling Well... COURT WARS: McConnell Says Obama Shouldn't Name Replacement... REID: Blocking New Nominee Would Be 'Shameful Abdication'... Pete Williams: I'd Be 'Very Surprised' If Senate Lets Anyone Through... Politicians React... 'Epic Battles Over The Fate Of Our Nation' Ahead...

Antonin Scalia

Associate Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia was found dead at a ranch in West Texas on Saturday, opening up a vacancy on the nation's narrowly divided highest court with less than a year left in President Barack Obama's term.

Scalia appears to have died in his sleep of natural causes, according to reports.

Chief Justice John Roberts called Scalia's death a "great loss to the Court" in a statement.

"On behalf of the Court and retired Justices, I am saddened to report that our colleague Justice Antonin Scalia has passed away. He was an extraordinary individual and jurist, admired and treasured by colleagues. His passing is a great loss to the Court and the country he so loyally served. We extend our deepest condolences to his wife Maureen and his family," Roberts said.

The White House said that President Barack Obama had been informed of Scalia's death and that he and First Lady Michelle Obama "extend their deepest condolences to Justice Scalia’s family."

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) released a statement Saturday calling Scalia "a patriot" and an "unwavering defender of the written Constitution and the Rule of Law." more