Oyez! Originalists, Open Minds And The Supreme Court

Oyez! Originalists, Open Minds And The Supreme Court

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Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia was a celebrated conservative and an “originalist.” He believed the Constitution isn’t that open to interpretation. But Scalia, who died last year, did believe in having his ideas challenged and hired several law clerks with liberal politics. The play “The Originalist” examines Scalia’s relationship with one such “counter clerk,” and it’s taken on new life following his death. Scalia was replaced on the court with another originalist — Justice Neil Gorsuch, who’s projected to continue a legacy of conservative decisions and dissents. Joining us to discuss Scalia and his views are Adam Liptak, legal correspondent for The New York Times, Edward Gero, the actor who plays Scalia in “The Originalist,” Joan Biskupic, Supreme Court biographer for CNN and Ian Samuel, a former “counter clerk” for Scalia and a fellow at Harvard Law School. We begin the conversation —in light of last night’s collapse of the Senate healthcare bill —with a look back at the Supreme Court decision in 2012 that upheld the Affordable Care Act.