Scalia Procession to Leave from Fairfax to Supreme Court Friday

PHOTO: Fairfax Memorial Funeral Home, 9902 Braddock Road, Fairfax; funeral home photo

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FAIRFAX, VA -- When a motorcade bearing the body of the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia makes its way to the U.S. Supreme Court Friday, it will leave from Fairfax Memorial Funeral Home at 9902 Braddock Road in Fairfax.

Scalia, who was appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court by President Ronald Reagan in 1986 and served as a reliably conservative lightning rod throughout his tenure, was found dead Saturday at a luxury resort in West Texas, Chief Justice John Roberts confirmed. He was 79.

“It’s certainly very high profile,” Bob Gallagher, operations manager for the Fairfax funeral home, said Wednesday. Fairfax Memorial Funeral Home is located on the grounds of Fairfax Memorial Park, a 128-acre nonsectarian cemetery, originally known as Calvary Memorial Park.

The cemetery was established in 1957 by Cornelius H. Doherty, Sr. (1896-1969). Cornelius H. Doherty, Jr., served as president of the funeral home from 1967, and now his son, Michael H. Doherty, has been serving as president since 2010.

Fairfax County Police have been contacted and are in discussions with the U.S. Supreme Court to see if they will take part in a motorcade Friday morning from Fairfax to the Supreme Court, Lt. Mike Tucker said.

Scalia will lie in repose Friday in the Great Hall at the U.S. Supreme Court, ahead of a Saturday funeral, the Court said Tuesday in an announcement.

The public is invited to pay respects Friday from 10:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. A private ceremony at the Supreme Court will begin at 9:30 a.m., the Court said. President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama are expected to pay their respects Friday, according to a report by the New York Times; Vice President Biden is expected at the funeral on Saturday.

In accordance with Supreme Court tradition, Scalia’s Bench Chair and the Bench directly in front of it have been draped with black wool crepe in memoriam, the Supreme Court said Tuesday in a news release. In addition, a black drape has been hung over the Courtroom doors.

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This tradition dates back at least as far as the death of Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase in 1873. It is believed to have been followed since, with the Bench Chair and Bench draped on the death of each sitting Justice, and the Courtroom door draped on the death of each Justice, sitting or retired, the Court said.

Scalia was a member of St. John the Beloved Catholic Church in McLean, where he lived with his wife Maureen; Scalia leaves behind nine children.

Funeral services for Scalia will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, according to a report by NPR; burial services will be private.

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