PHILADELPHIA — Before the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit began the important business on Wednesday of deciding whether New Jersey could offer legal wagering on sports, Judge Thomas L. Ambro offered a tribute to Justice Antonin Scalia, who died last week, listing his many contributions to the law.
“In my view, he was the most influential jurist of our generation,” Judge Ambro said.
He concluded that Justice Scalia was a “transformational” figure. The soliloquy set an interesting tone for a rare en banc hearing in the ceremonial courtroom here, where 12 judges heard arguments on whether New Jersey’s plan to operate sports books in its casinos and racetracks was legal under federal law.