What will the vacancy on the Supreme Court mean for religious freedom? We'll have some answers next FOT

Justice Antonin Scalia 1936 - 2016  RIP

Over the weekend a legal giant, Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia, died. Justice Scalia was the intellectual leader of the Court’s conservative block, as well as the Court as a whole. 

Justice Scalia’s death, however, leaves the Court deadlocked 4-4 between liberal and conservative justices, and since Justice Anthony Kennedy sometimes sides with the liberals, the balance in the court could shift to the liberals 5-3 on many issues. And if President Obama has his way, he’ll appoint another liberal judge to the court.

So, just what does Justice Scalia’s death mean for the future jurisprudence of the Court? How will religious liberties fare with the current vacancy?

Professor William Piatt

We’ll try to answer some of those questions Tuesday when we are joined by Professor William Piatt of the St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio, Texas. Professor Piatt specializes in constitutional law and jurisprudence with a focus on Catholic perspectives. Prior to joining the St. Mary’s law faculty he served as the assistant attorney general in New Mexico and later as assistant public defender. He also created the first-in-the-nation Center for Terrorism Law. 

What’s next for the Supreme Court after Justice Scalia? We’ll have some answers for you Tuesday at 9 a.m. (Central) on Iowa Catholic Radio, 1150 AM; 88.5 & 94.5 FM and streaming on IowaCatholicRadio.com. The program will be re-broadcast at 9 p.m. Join Deacon Mike Manno and Gina Noll for an interesting and informative look at what the Court vacancy might hold.

Faith On Trial is the only program of its kind on Catholic radio and is sponsored by our loyal underwriters: Attorney Rick McConville, Coppola, McConville, Coppola, Carroll, Hockenberg & Scalise PC 2100 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, 515-453-1055; Confluence Brewing Company – off the Bike Trail just south of Grey’s Lake, 1235 Thomas Beck Road where there is live entertainment in the tap room every Thursday, and Rob denHartog, Wealth Management Advisor at Northwestern Mutual Life, NW corner of 128^th Street and Hickman Rd, 515-210-4472.

Tune in every Tuesday at 9 & 9 for the latest legal news and commentary of interest to people of faith.