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| Antonin Scalia death: Funeral Mass for US Justice | Antonin Scalia death: Funeral Mass for US Justice |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A funeral Mass is being celebrated in Washington for US Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, who died last weekend at the age of 79. | A funeral Mass is being celebrated in Washington for US Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, who died last weekend at the age of 79. |
| The service, attended by Vice-President Joe Biden, is being held in the country's largest Catholic church. | |
| Mr Scalia's coffin had earlier lain in the Supreme Court with President Barack Obama among those paying respects. | Mr Scalia's coffin had earlier lain in the Supreme Court with President Barack Obama among those paying respects. |
| The death of Mr Scalia, who was seen as a hero by the US right, has sparked a political row over his successor. | The death of Mr Scalia, who was seen as a hero by the US right, has sparked a political row over his successor. |
| How death reshapes key cases | How death reshapes key cases |
| The crisis of US governability | The crisis of US governability |
| Scalia in his own words | Scalia in his own words |
| Private burial | Private burial |
| The Supreme Court says more than 6,000 visitors viewed the casket in the Great Hall on Friday. | The Supreme Court says more than 6,000 visitors viewed the casket in the Great Hall on Friday. |
| It was then moved on Saturday morning to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception for the funeral Mass, concluding two days of official mourning. | It was then moved on Saturday morning to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception for the funeral Mass, concluding two days of official mourning. |
| One of Mr Scalia's nine children, Rev Paul Scalia, will lead the Mass, ahead of a private burial. | One of Mr Scalia's nine children, Rev Paul Scalia, will lead the Mass, ahead of a private burial. |
| Rev Scalia, who serves the diocese of Arlington, Virginia, will deliver the homily. No eulogy is expected. | Rev Scalia, who serves the diocese of Arlington, Virginia, will deliver the homily. No eulogy is expected. |
| The country's eight remaining Supreme Court justices will attend. | The country's eight remaining Supreme Court justices will attend. |
| The BBC's Washington correspondent Gary O'Donoghue says thousands are expected to pack the Basilica to commemorate the life of a man seen as a hero by the religious and political right. | The BBC's Washington correspondent Gary O'Donoghue says thousands are expected to pack the Basilica to commemorate the life of a man seen as a hero by the religious and political right. |
| But, he says, even before Mr Scalia has been laid to rest, the political battle lines over his successor have already been drawn, with a Republican-controlled Senate threatening to block any nomination the president puts forward. | But, he says, even before Mr Scalia has been laid to rest, the political battle lines over his successor have already been drawn, with a Republican-controlled Senate threatening to block any nomination the president puts forward. |
| President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama were among those paying their respects at the flag-draped casket on Friday, but are not attending the funeral. | President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama were among those paying their respects at the flag-draped casket on Friday, but are not attending the funeral. |
| Mr Biden has a close personal relationship with the Scalia family, and White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Mr Obama's attendance could create security issues. | Mr Biden has a close personal relationship with the Scalia family, and White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Mr Obama's attendance could create security issues. |
| Republican presidential hopeful Ted Cruz is attending the Mass. | Republican presidential hopeful Ted Cruz is attending the Mass. |
| He has been among those demanding there be no nomination of a successor until after the November presidential election. | He has been among those demanding there be no nomination of a successor until after the November presidential election. |
| Mr Obama has insisted he will go through with the nomination. | Mr Obama has insisted he will go through with the nomination. |
| Mr Scalia's death leaves the Supreme Court evenly divided between liberal and conservative justices ahead of crucial cases on abortion, voting rights and immigration. | Mr Scalia's death leaves the Supreme Court evenly divided between liberal and conservative justices ahead of crucial cases on abortion, voting rights and immigration. |
| According to the constitution, the president nominates justices to the court and the Senate uses its "advice and consent" powers to confirm or reject that person. | According to the constitution, the president nominates justices to the court and the Senate uses its "advice and consent" powers to confirm or reject that person. |
| Mr Scalia died unexpectedly at his remote Texas ranch last Saturday. | Mr Scalia died unexpectedly at his remote Texas ranch last Saturday. |
| He had a history of heart trouble and high blood pressure, and US authorities said there had been no foul play. | He had a history of heart trouble and high blood pressure, and US authorities said there had been no foul play. |