By CNN Staff
WASHINGTON (CNN) — Conservative judge Robert Bork died early Wednesday at his home in Virginia, two sources close to his family told CNN.
Bork, who was 85, was best known for being nominated to the Supreme Court by President Ronald Reagan in 1987, only to be rejected for the post after a contentious confirmation battle led by left-leaning groups who opposed Bork’s conservative judicial philosophies.
Bork was known as a staunch advocate for “originalism,” a principle that defends the original intent of the Constitution.
This fall, he was tapped to co-chair Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s justice advisory committee.
CNN’s Bill Mears and Ashley Killough contributed to this report
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