Trump to pick yet another US Supreme Court justice as Kennedy retire
US Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy has announced that he is retiring, giving President Donald Trump the chance to pick yet another justice for the court and shift its ideological balance even farther to the right for years to come.
"It has been the greatest honor and privilege to serve our nation in the federal judiciary for 43 years, 30 of those on the Supreme Court," Kennedy said in a statement.
The announcement came shortly after Chief Justice John Roberts adjourned the court for the summer recess.
The justice delivered a letter to White House Wednesday afternoon, informing Trump of his decision, effective July 31.
Nominated by President Ronald Reagan and confirmed in 1988, Kennedy,82, is the court’s longest-serving member and second-oldest justice.
During his tenure, Kennedy has sided with liberals on several issues, including efforts to save ObamaCare and limit the death penalty.
His retirement is bad news for liberals, who are already angry with the Republicans’ refusal to give President Barrack Obama’s nominee, Merrick Garland, a fair hearing at Congress although Obama still had a year in office and was legally responsible for filling the vacancy at the top court after the late Justice Antonin Scalia’s death.
Later when Trump assumed office, he nominated a conservative figure, Neil Gorsuch, to replace him.
After Kennedy’s announcement, Donald Trump Jr., the president’s son, was probably the first one to suggest a replacement, Fox News host Judge Jeanine Pirro (pictured below).
“This would be pretty awesome,” he wrote on Twitter.
Pirro had reportedly voiced willingness to replace Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
US intensifies security measures amid anticipated post-election unrest
Russia rejects 'baseless' US claims of producing fake vote videos
Ex-detainee held at Guantánamo Bay for two decades dies in Pakistan
Iran calls on EU to end targeting ordinary Iranians after missile transfer claims refuted
UK police detain Jewish scholar Haim Bresheeth following pro-Palestine address
VIDEO | Iraqi resistance strikes key Israeli targets in occupied territories
VIDEO | Press TV's news headlines
Iranian satellites launched into space as private sector debuts in space industry
VIDEO | Iran, Azerbaijan conduct joint maritime rescue operations
VIDEO | Yemen’s Red Sea divide: Naval forces block Israeli-linked ships in strategic ‘parting of the water’
VIDEO | Southern Gaza: Israel’s facade for famine and suffering
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
