President Donald Trump, minutes after Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy announced his retirement, told reporters he will nominate a replacement from his list of 25 judges (below) and push for confirmation before the November midterms.
Justice Kennedy’s retirement literally puts abortion rights, same-sex marriage and other LGBT rights at stake, according to experts. In short, with a second Trump justice on the nation’s highest court, the landscape of American society could be mutated into a far right religious extremist’s dream.
Former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti makes clear that Roe v. Wade could be overturned.
Writing at Vox, Dylan Matthews makes what’s at stake clear, saying that The Supreme Court without Justice Court without Kennedy is likely to:
Overturn Roe v. Wade and allow states (and maybe the federal government too) to ban most or all abortions.
Reject challenges to capital punishment and solitary confinement.
Rule in favor of religious challenges to anti-discrimination law, and perhaps, in an extreme case, reverse some past Supreme Court rulings on gay rights.
Bar government actors from engaging in explicit race-based affirmative action.
Democrats could try to block any vote on a new Supreme Court justice until after the midterm elections, but the chances of that happening are slim.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says, “We will vote to confirm Justice Kennedy’s successor this fall.”
Here’s Trump list of 25 potential replacements, each worse than the next:
This is a breaking news and developing story. Details may change. This story will be updated, and NCRM will likely publish follow-up stories on this news. Stay tuned and refresh for updates.