The judge performed the inquest because the cause of death was unknown. So far so good.[1]
How did the judge determine whether or not an autopsy was necessary to determine or confirm the nature and cause of death?[2]
The judge did not see the body, how could she make such a determination? Apparently she relied on statements from LEO who arrived on scene after the death. Did LEO determine the cause of death?
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[1] Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Art. 49.04 (a) A justice of the peace shall conduct an inquest into the death of a person who dies in the county served by the justice if: (3) the body or a body part of a person is found, the cause or circumstances of death are unknown
[2] Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Art. 49.10. (e) A justice of the peace shall order an autopsy performed on a body if: (1) the justice determines that an autopsy is necessary to determine or confirm the nature and cause of death;
[3] Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Art. 49.01 (2) “Inquest” means an investigation into the cause and circumstances of the death of a person, and a determination, made with or without a formal court hearing, as to whether the death was caused by an unlawful act or omission.
Somebody responded. They have equipment and cool stuff. And this being the 21st century some of that equipment is going to be smartphones that can transmit all kinds of data, including letting the judge visually inspect the body from anywhere with cell towers. It’s a remarkable world this 21st century, if you’ve had x-rays in the last decade there’s a really good chance the real analysis was done on the other side of the planet (people whine about Indian call centers, nobody pays attention to how x-ray technicians have been offshored), people don’t actually need to be at the body to check it out. Heck with zoom in you can probably get a BETTER visual inspection by phone than in person.
Looks like a former head of criminal investigations is also surprised at the “NO Autopsy”
Conspiracy theories swirl around the death of Antonin Scalia
“As a former homicide commander, I am stunned that no autopsy was ordered for Justice Scalia,†William O. Ritchie, former head of criminal investigations for D.C. police, wrote in a post on Facebook onSunday.