Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy announced his retirement on Wednesday effective July 31, after 40 years on the bench — having been appointed by Ronald Reagan in 1988. In a letter to President Trump, Kennedy wrote the following:
“For a member of the legal profession, it is the highest of honors to serve on this Court. Please permit me by this letter to express my profound gratitude for having had the privilege to seek in each case how best to know, interpret and defend the Constitution and the laws that must always conform to its mandates and promises.”
Kennedy’s retirement means that the Trump administration will now have the opportunity to replace at least two Supreme Court justices, which it will likely attempt to complete before a possible blue wave in the November midterms.
This is extremely bad news for progressives. Although Kennedy has sided with Supreme Court conservatives on recent issues like Trump’s travel ban and the decision to uphold a California law regarding anti-abortion crisis pregnancy centers — the traditionally swing voter often sided with liberal SCOTUS justices, and was the deciding factor to legalize same sex marriage in 2015.
Prior to his announcement, Kennedy took the opportunity to remind Trump that he is not above the law. “An anxious world must know that our Government remains committed always to the liberties the Constitution seeks to preserve and protect, so that freedom extends outward, and lasts,” he said in a statement.
Be that as it may, Trump is now going to be able to shape the highest court in the nation as he sees fit, which is bad news for a lot of people, who justifiably are freaking the hell out in light of the news.
We are now living with the horrible consequences of people out there who chose not to vote in 2016. You didn’t “love” Hillary, u sat out in protest, u wanted Bernie, u assumed she’d win, u just couldn’t get to the polls that day. Don’t blame Trump voters – they voted.
— billy eichner (@billyeichner) June 26, 2018
Justice Kennedy is retiring. Saying I'm worried about the future of reproductive rights in our country is a drastic understatement.
— Jess Phoenix, Lava Connoisseur 🌋 (@jessphoenix2018) June 27, 2018
With Justice Kennedy’s resignation, Americans are threatened with a disastrous shift in our Supreme Court and its role in upholding democratic values. The recent series of shocking partisan decisions underscore the risk of losing this seat to a hard-right justice.
— Tom Steyer (@TomSteyer) June 27, 2018
https://twitter.com/michaelianblack/status/1012035834428710912
Fuck You @Comey
Fuck You @DrJillStein
Fuck You @SenateMajLdr— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) June 27, 2018
Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy is retiring. Among other things, his replacement will likely overturn Roe v. Wade, which will allow states to prohibit abortion. The consequences of the 2016 election have never been more stark.
— Renato Mariotti (@renato_mariotti) June 27, 2018
Without Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, women’s reproductive freedom and the fate of Roe v. Wade now swing in the balance at the whim of Donald J. Trump.
— Eugene Gu, MD (@eugenegu) June 27, 2018
Omg can we do that cute unconstitutional thing again where we stall on nominees until the next election?
— Jonathan Van Ness (@jvn) June 27, 2018
Justice Anthony Kennedy to Retire.
ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES.
ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES.
ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES.
ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES.
ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES.#MidtermsBeforeSCOTUS
— Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) June 27, 2018
Sen. Blumenthal called Kennedy retirement an “earth shattering” event that “will determine the court’s decisions for a major part of our lifetime.”
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) June 27, 2018
so depressed I can’t even bring myself to say “nice” https://t.co/eD5oCt1jjg
— Vince Mancini (@VinceMancini) June 27, 2018
We are indeed living in the darkest timeline.
(Via CNBC)