WASHINGTON — Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy announced today he will retire as soon as President Donald Trump names, and Congress confirms, his replacement.
Kennedy’s vote history, and he has often been the swing voter, has included conservative and liberal findings.
The Justice was nominated in 1987 by President Ronald Reagan. Kennedy was Reagan’s third selection for the post after Robert Bork was rejected by Congress and Douglas Ginsburg withdrew after admitting to using marijuana.
Kennedy will be 82 this year and is younger than Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who is 85.
Among Kennedy’s conservative votes were affirmation of the Second Amendment and allowing corporations and unions unlimited funding limits in political races.
He sided with more liberal causes by finding in favor of same-sex marriage and siding with prisoners at Guantanamo Bay could challenge their incarceration.
