President Barack Obama declared Saturday night he would honor his responsibility to fill the Supreme Court seat left vacant by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia.

Obama first paid tribute to the 79-year-old Justice, who was found dead from natural causes on Saturday at a hunting ranch in West Texas, calling him 'larger than life' and a 'brilliant legal mind'.

The president's comments followed those of Republicans who wasted little time Saturday night, as news of Scalia's unexpected death spread, arguing that Obama should leave the choice to his successor.

But Obama was quick to remind that the day was meant to 'remember Justice Scalia's legacy'.

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Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, 79, died of died of apparent natural causes at the Cibolo Creek Ranch south of Marfa, Texas on Saturday

Scalia, who held conservative views, was nominated to the US Supreme Court in 1986 by President Ronald Reagan and is the longest-serving justice on the Court

Obama called Scalia 'larger than life' with a 'brilliant legal mind' before adding that he plans to fulfill his 'constitutional responsibilities' to nominate someone to fill his seat

'I plan to fulfill my constitutional responsibilities to name a successor in due time, and there will be plenty of time for me to do so,' he said.

'And for the Senate to fulfill its responsibility to give that person a fair hearing and a timely vote.'

Obama said he took his responsibilities to nominate the next Supreme Court Justice, given to the president under Article Two of the US Constitution, seriously before adding 'as should everyone'.

'They are bigger than any one party, they are about our democracy, they are about the institution to which Justice Scalia dedicated his professional life and making sure it continues to function as the beacon of justice that our founders envisioned.'

Before Obama discussed the nomination he paid tribute to Scalia's life, calling him a 'brilliant legal mind' with 'energetic style, incisive wit and colorful opinions'.

'He influenced a generation of judges, lawyers and students and profoundly shaped the legal landscape,' he continued.

'He will no doubt be remembered as one of the most consequential judges and thinkers to serve on the Supreme Court'.

Scalia died of apparent natural causes while staying at the Cibolo Creek Ranch in the Big Bend region south of Marfa.

The Supreme Court Justice spent the day quail hunting before arriving at the ranch on Friday to attend a private party with approximately 40 other people.

The Supreme Court Justice spent the day quail hunting before arriving at the ranch (pictured) on Friday to attended a private party with approximately 40 other people

A hearse leaves the ranch where Justice Scalia was found dead in his bed on Saturday morning

When he did not show up for breakfast in the morning, a person associated with the ranch went to check on him and found his body in his room at the resort

Scalia (center) died of apparent natural causes and there wasn't any sign of foul play, a federal official said

He wasn't feeling well and went to bed early, CNN reported.

When he did not show up for breakfast in the morning, a person associated with the ranch went to check on him and found his body in his room.

The US Marshal Service, the Presidio County sheriff and the FBI are investigating Scalia's death but there was no evidence of foul play, a federal official told My San Antonio.

A gray Cadillac hearse, coming from Alpine Memorial Funeral Home, arrived at the ranch on Saturday afternoon. An El Paso priest was also called to Marfa on Saturday, KVIA reported.

Scalia leaves behind his wife of 55 years, Maureen, as well as their nine children and 28 grandchildren.

Hours after the conservative Justice's death was announced, Senate Republicans were already promising they would not allow Obama to fill his vacant seat.

The court faces a crowded docket of politically charged cases that were certain to resonate in the presidential campaign on issues such as immigration, abortion, affirmative action, labor unions and Obama's health care law.

Scalia pictured in 1953 for his senior year photo at Xavier High School in Queens, New York

Decisions were expected in late spring and early summer on whether the president could shield up to 5 million immigrants living in the United States illegally from deportation.

With many cases decided by 5-4 margins, and the loss of Scalia leaving the court split with four Democratic and Republican appointees each, the vacancy could have major repercussions, both legally and in the presidential race.

'The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice,' Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a statement Saturday.

'Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new President.'

GOP presidential hopefuls Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz have made similar comments, already setting precedent for what is sure to dominate Saturday night's Republican debate.

'Justice Scalia was an American hero,' Cruz tweeted after news of his death broke.

'We owe it to him, & the Nation, for the Senate to ensure that the next President names his replacement.'

‘Justice Scalia was one of the most consequential Americans in our history and a brilliant legal mind who served with only one objective: to interpret and defend the Constitution as written,' Rubio said in a released statement.

‘The next president must nominate a justice who will continue Justice Scalia’s unwavering belief in the founding principles that we hold dear.’

US District Judge Fred Biery, who first announced the news of Scalia's death to My San Antonio, said he believes 'nothing will happen before the next president is elected'.

Senate Democrats have since begun to hit back, with Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid calling on Obama to name a nomination immediately.

'The Senate has a responsibility to fill vacancies as soon as possible', he wrote.

'Would be unprecedented in recent history for SCOTUS to go year with vacancy. And shameful abdication of our constitutional responsibility.’

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said the Republicans who wanted Scalia's seat to remain vacant were dishonoring the Constitution.

'The Senate has a constitutional responsibility here that it cannot abdicate for partisan political reasons,' she said in a released statement.

'If any of us needed a reminder of just how important it is to take back the United States Senate and hold onto the White House, just look at the Supreme Court.

'I know that our thoughts and prayers are with the Scalia family tonight, and I am also thinking and praying for the future of our country.

'It is outrageous that the Republicans in the Senate on the campaign trail have already pledged to block any replacement that President Obama nominates.'

Democrats pointed out that Justice Anthony Kennedy was confirmed in an election year - 1988 - the final year of Ronald Reagan's presidency. Kennedy had been nominated in November 1987 after the Senate rejected Robert Bork and Judge Douglas Ginsburg bowed out.

The flag at the steps of the US Supreme Court was lowered to half-mast after news broke of Scalia's death

Retiring Chief Justice Warren Burger, right, administers an oath to Associate Justice Antonin Scalia, as Scalia's wife, Maureen, holds the bible during ceremonies on September 26, 1968

'I AM MOURNING THIS REMARKABLE MAN': OBAMA REMEMBERS SCALIA ‘Antonin Nino Scalia was a larger than life, a brilliant legal mind with an energetic style, incisive wit and colorful opinions. He influenced a generation of judges, lawyers and students and profoundly shaped the legal landscape. He will no doubt be remembered as one of the most consequential judges and thinkers to serve on the Supreme Court. Justice Scalia dedicated his life to the cornerstone of our democracy, the rule of law. Tonight we honor his extraordinary service to our nation, and remember one of the towering legal figures of our time. Antonin Scalia was born in Trenton, New Jersey to an Italian immigrant family. After graduating from Georgetown University and Harvard law school, he worked at a law firm and taught law before entering a life of public service. He rose from assistant attorney general for the Office of Legal Consul to the judge on the DC Circuit Court to Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. A devout Catholic, he was the proud father of nine children and the grandfather to many loving grandchildren. A devout hunter, and a passion for opera music, which he scared with Ruth Badger Ginsburg Tonight we join his fellow justices in mourning this remarkable man. Obviously today is a day to remember Justice Scalia’s legacy. I plan to fulfil my constitutional responsibilities to name a successor in due time, and there will be plenty of time for me to do so and for the Senate to fulfill its responsibility to give that person a fair hearing and a timely vote. These are responsibilities that I take seriously as should everyone. They are bigger than any one party, they are about our democracy, they are about the institution to which Justice Scalia dedicated his professional life and making sure it continues to function as the beacon of justice that our founders envisioned. At this moment we most of all want to think about his family, and Michelle and I join the nation in sending our deepest sympathies to Justice Scalia’s wife Maureen and their loving family – a beautiful symbol of a life well lived. We thank them for sharing Scalia with our country. Advertisement

They also argued that waiting for the next president in January 2017 would leave the court without a ninth justice for more than the remainder of Obama's term as Senate confirmation on average takes just over two months.

Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy, the top ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Scalia's death should not be used as a reason for the Senate to stop 'performing its constitutional duty'.

'The American people deserve to have a fully functioning Supreme Court,' Leahy said in a statement.

'The Supreme Court of the United States is too important to our democracy for it to be understaffed for partisan reasons. It is only February.'

'The President and the Senate should get to work without delay to nominate, consider and confirm the next justice to serve on the Supreme Court.'

President Barack Obama was informed of Scalia's passing Saturday afternoon, White House Deputy Press Secretary Eric Schultz said in a statement.

'The President and First Lady extend their deepest condolences to Justice Scalia's family,' it read.

GOP presidential candidate frontrunner Donald Trump called Scalia's death a 'massive setback for the Conservative movement and our country'.

Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Bernie Sanders also released a statement, calling Scalia a 'brilliant, colorful and outspoken member of the Supreme Court.'

Chief Justice John Roberts called his peer an 'extraordinary individual and jurist' who was 'admired and treasured by his colleagues'.

Former President George W. Bush called Scalia a 'brilliant jurist and important American'.

'He was a towering figure and important judge on our Nation’s highest court,' read the statement.

Ronald Reagan announces Scalia's nomination to the Supreme Court on June 17, 1986

Scalia leaves behind his wife of 55 years, Maureen (pictured together in 2012), and their nine children

WHY SCALIA'S PASSING SETS UP A MONUMENTAL BATTLE IN THE SENATE Scalia's passing will set up a monumental battle over his replacement, as the White House has announced that President Obama will nominate a new justice but Republicans in the Senate say the next president should fill the vacancy. The Senate has the constitutional duty to provide its consent to major appointments, and Republicans are in control. That means the Judiciary Committee, which holds hearings on federal court nominees, can ignore candidates the GOP doesn’t like, holding them in limbo. It's relatively uncommon for Supreme Court jurists to die in office, and more typical for them to retire in old age. Very few have chosen to retire in an election year, fearing their potential successors would become political footballs. For that reason, it's highly unusual for the Senate to confirm Supreme Court justices in the last year of a president's term. Obama can employ a different strategy, known as a 'recess appointment,' bypassing the Senate and placing a justice directly on the bench – but only if the Senate is on a break, or 'in recess.' In order to avoid giving him that opportunity, Senate Republicans will likely leave their legislative body in a 'pro forma' state instead of going on vacation, leaving one senator to gavel-in and gavel-out a brief session every day so the White House can't act on its own. Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina told DailyMail.com on Saturday at the site of the GOP presidential debate that Scalia's replacement 'will be chosen by the next President of the United States.' Asked if that means the Senate will not go into recess at all until next January, he said: 'If that's what it means, that's what it means.' Advertisement

'He brought intellect, good judgement, and wit to the bench, and he will be missed by his colleagues and our country.'

Scalia was nominated to the US Supreme Court in 1986 by President Ronald Reagan and was the longest-serving justice on the current Court, as well as its first Italian-American Justice.

An advocate of an originalism interpretation of the Constitution, Scalia believed that its meaning was fixed at the time it was written and that it did not evolve and change with the times.

It was the foundation for his staunch opposition to same-sex marriage and affirmative action, his controversial comments in court and colorful dissents often making as many headlines as the decision itself.

'Who ever thought that intimacy and spirituality (whatever that means) were freedoms?' he wrote in his dissent after same-sex marriage was legalized by the Supreme Court in June, a vote he called a 'threat to American democracy'.

'And if intimacy is, one would think Freedom of Intimacy is abridged rather than expanded by marriage. Ask the nearest hippie,' he wrote.

In the same dissent, Scalia wrote that the Supreme Court had descended 'to the mystical aphorisms of the fortune cookie' and wrote that California didn't count as a 'genuine' Western state.

Scalia most recently stirred up controversy during a hearing for a case challenging affirmative action at the University of Texas at Austin.

GOP presidential candidates Donald Trump and Ted Cruz were quick to react to news of Scalia's death

Former president Bill Clinton called Scalia's death a 'surprise' and said he thought 'he'd live to be 100'

SOME OF SCALIA'S MOST CONTROVERSIAL COMMENTS Scalia was praised for his eloquence, but the conservative Supreme Court Justice also often came under fire for the comments he made in his fiery dissents, especially in regards to homosexuality and affirmative action. In the 1996 case Romer V Evans, Scalia dissented the court's majority that allowed individual states the right to ban practices that discriminated against gay people. 'It is our moral heritage that one should not hate any human being or class of human beings,' Scalia wrote. 'But I had thought that one could consider certain conduct reprehensible - murder, for example, or polygamy, or cruelty to animals - and could exhibit even "animus" toward such conduct.' In the 2003 Lawrence v Texas case, Scalia wrote that an anti-sodomy law in Texas constrained liberty in the same way as laws that prohibit 'prostitution, recreation use of heroin, and...working more than 60 hours per week in a bakery'. 'Many Americans do not want persons who openly engage in homosexual conduct as partners in their business, as scoutmasters for their children, as teachers in their children's schools, or as boarders in their home,' he continued in his dissent. 'They view this as protecting themselves and their families from a lifestyle that they believe to be immoral and destructive.' Scalia made headlines last summer in his dissent against the Supreme Court ruling that made same-sex marriage legal across the nation, calling the Court a 'threat to American democracy' that had descended to the 'mystical aphorisms of the fortune cookie' and questioning whether California was truly a 'genuine' Western state. 'Who ever thought that intimacy and spirituality (whatever that means) were freedoms?' he asked. 'And if intimacy is, one would think Freedom of Intimacy is abridged rather than expanded by marriage. Ask the nearest hippie. Expression, sure enough, is a freedom, but anyone in a long-lasting marriage will attest that that happy state constricts, rather than expands, what one can prudently say.' Outside of the courthouse, Scalia once asked a Princeton University student: 'If we cannot have moral feelings against homosexuality, can we have it against murder?' At a 2012 book signing, Scalia that his textualist views of the Constitution made a number of hot-button issues easy to interpret. 'The death penalty? Give me a break. It’s easy. Abortion? Absolutely easy. Nobody ever thought the Constitution prevented restrictions on abortion,” he said. 'Homosexual sodomy? Come on. For 200 years, it was criminal in every state.' Scalia most recently stirred up controversy during a hearing for a case challenging affirmative action at the University of Texas at Austin. 'There are those who contend that it does not benefit African Americans...to get them into the University of Texas where they do not do well, as opposed to having slower-track school where they do well,' he said. 'One of — one of the briefs pointed out that — that most of the — most of the black scientists in this country don’t come from schools like the University of Texas….' Advertisement

'There are those who contend that it does not benefit African Americans...to get them into the University of Texas where they do not do well, as opposed to having slower-track school where they do well,' he said.

Scalia, called Nino by his loved ones, was born in Trenton, New Jersey on March 11, 1936 and grew up in the Queens borough of New York City.

His father, an Italian immigrant who arrived at Ellis Island at the age of 17, was a romance languages professor at Brooklyn College and his mother, a second-generation Italian-American, was an elementary school teacher.

Scalia was their only child and, after graduating first in his class at Manhattan military prep school St Francis Xavier, he went on to become valedictorian at Georgetown University.

In his graduation speech he told his peers, 'If we will not be leaders of a real, a true, a Catholic intellectual life, no one will,' according to The Washington Post.

Scalia graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1960, and worked at a private practice in Cleveland for six years before he became a law professor at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville.

He then entered public service, including three years as assistant attorney general of the Office of Legal Consul, and was appointed to the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit by President Reagan in 1981 after losing his bid for solicitor general of the US.

It would be five years, and the appointment of Sandra Day O'Connor, before Scalia was nominated to the Supreme Court, sailing through the confirmation hearing with a 98 to 0 vote.

Vice President Joe Biden later admitted in 1993 that the vote he regretted the most of his then 15,000 as a senator was the one to confirm Scalia.

Why? 'Because,' Biden said. 'He was so effective.'

Scalia (front, second from left) was nominated to the US Supreme Court in 1986 by President Ronald Reagan and is the longest-serving justice on the Court

A candle was laid on the steps of the Supreme Court on Saturday night