While Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia’s death on Feb. 13 at a West Texas ranch came as a shock to the public, a Texas county judge said that his doctor told her that Scalia had health problems.
Scalia died at the Cibolo Creek Ranch resort, south of Marfa, Texas of what was ruled natural causes. The news was surprising because there was no indication that he was in declining health since the Supreme Court judges is not required to tell the public about their health.
Presidio County Judge Cinderela Guevara, who decided that authorities did not need to perform an autopsy on Scalia, told the Associated Press on Feb. 15 that she spoke with Scalia’s doctor on the day he died. She was told that Scalia had a history of heart trouble, as well as high blood pressure. He recently suffered a shoulder injury, but was told by the doctor that he was too weak for surgery, Guevara said.
Guevara also told ABC News that Scalia’s death certificate will list natural causes with myocardial infarction, or a heart attack.
The judge told the AP that she spoke with a Dr. Monahan. The Supreme Court’s physician is Rear Adm. Brian P. Monahan, although a spokesman would not confirm if Monahan examined Scalia or not.
Guevara’s comments will not end confusion over Scalia’s death. Many who knew Scalia, including Bryan Garner, who wrote two books with him, have said that he was doing as well as usual in the days before his death. Garner told the AP that Scalia seemed happy when they took trips out of the country in January and early February.
Scalia was 79 years old. He began serving on the court in 1986 after being appointed by President Ronald Reagan.