Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy Announces Retirement
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- There are two major developments from the United State Supreme Court Wednesday.
The justices ruled Wednesday morning that union dues are not mandatory for public employees. Then, hours later, swing Justice Anthony Kennedy announced his retirement.
President Donald Trump told reporters Wednesday afternoon that he will make his Supreme Court selection from a short list he made during the 2016 election campaign.
It is a list of 20 to 25 judges, includes Appeals Court Judge David Stras, who served on the Minnesota Supreme Court before he was appointed by Trump to the federal bench. Stras once clerked for Justice Clarence Thomas.
Justice Kennedy is a swing vote who could go conservative or liberal in numerous 5-4 decisions. Kennedy voted on the side of gay rights, abortion rights and affirmative action.
But Kennedy was also a conservative vote, as the author of the Citizens United decision. And he was a deciding vote in Bush vs. Gore, giving the presidency to George W. Bush.
Republicans denied President Barack Obama in his last year in office from appointing a Justice, waiting until Trump could appoint conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch.
Now, Trump's second appointment could change the makeup of the court to a conservative bench for a generation.
Republican Leader Mitch McConnell says he wants a vote on a new Justice this fall. He is getting pushback from Minnesota Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar, who said in a statement that Kennedy, "should be replaced by someone who will see both sides of the issues and make a decision based on legal precedent, not someone who will vote solely on the basis of ideology."
