WASHINGTON—U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia died of natural causes and no autopsy was necessary, a judge has told The Associated Press.
Presidio County Judge Cinderela Guevara told The Associated Press on Sunday she consulted with Scalia’s personal physician and sheriff’s investigators, who said there were no signs of foul play, before concluding that he had died of natural causes. He was found dead in his room at a West Texas resort ranch Saturday morning. Guevara says the declaration was made around 1:52 p.m. Saturday.
In a subsequent interview on Monday, Guevara said she initially had determined an autopsy was needed. But she changed her mind after speaking with Scalia’s physician Saturday evening. She said the lack of signs of foul play coupled with his doctor confirming Scalia’s history of heart trouble and other illnesses meant the justice likely died of natural causes.
