antonin scalia was born in trenton, new jersey, in 1936. after graduating first in his high school class, valedictorian from georgetown university and from harvard, he embarked on a law career that would include stints in private practice, the leal academy and finally the judiciary. president reagan nominated then professor scalia to the court of appeals for the d.c. circuit in july, 1982. he appeared before the senate judiciary committee on august 4, 1984 -- excuse me, august 4, 1982, another date with constitutional significance. the hearing began just minutes after the senate voted 69-31 to approve a balanced budget constitutional amendment, the only time this body has done so, at least so far. i was an original cosponsor of that amendment. i mention that because cru justice scalia's approach to the constitution means that the people and the people alone have authority to change it through the amendment process outlined in the constitution. the senate's vote on that balanced budget amendment was part of that process. professor scalia tol