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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsJustice Kennedy Tells October 2018 Clerkship Applicants He's Considering Retirement
Justice Kennedy Tells October 2018 Clerkship Applicants Hes Considering Retirement, Right Before 2018 Midterms
Posted on July 2, 2017 4:38 pm by Rick Hasen
Big news hiding in Nina Totenbergs story on Justice Gorsuch voting 100% with Justice Thomas:
But it is unlikely that Kennedy will remain on the court for the full four years of the Trump presidency. While he long ago hired his law clerks for the coming term, he has not done so for the following term (beginning Oct. 2018), and has let applicants for those positions know he is considering retirement.
Kennedys position on the court is more than consequential. In the most hotly contested and closely divided cases, his vote often decides the outcome. With every passing day, it has become more clear that President Trumps first Supreme Court nominee, Neil Gorsuch, is probably even more conservative than the justice he replaced, Antonin Scalia.
This would put Justice Kennedys retirement right before the 2018 midterms, giving the Republican base reasons to turn out and keep the Senate with a Republican majority (already a strong possibility in 2018).
http://electionlawblog.org/?p=93506
I think he'll retire before then so they can get somebody confirmed. Ugh. What a nightmare.
winstars
(4,220 posts)Or am I getting my history wrong?
Catmusicfan
(816 posts)Anonymous Bosh
(28 posts)If true, gonna be crazy in the Senate
BzaDem
(11,142 posts)which would give Republicans plenty of time to confirm a replacement. It would be political malpractice to wait until the midterms to confirm a replacement.
I suspect that he will indeed retire in June of 2018. The Supreme Court was lost for a generation in November of 2016. Perhaps after a generation of conservative rulings, the Democratic base will become at least as motivated as Republicans to vote in elections with the court in mind.
octoberlib
(14,971 posts)turn out if he waits.
Not Ruth
(3,613 posts)Because this should be leading the US news
octoberlib
(14,971 posts)Nina TotenbergVerified account
@NinaTotenberg
NPR Legal Affairs Correspondent https://twitter.com/NinaTotenberg
or Rick Hasen
Rick HasenVerified account
@rickhasen
Professor of Law and Political Science at UC Irvine; Election Law Blogger.
Chasstev365
(5,191 posts)until Merrick Garland is put on the court.
Do you hear me McConnell? The treasonous Republicans cannot be allowed to get away with the shit they've pulled, PERIOD!
It still kills me that there was not enough of a fight and the Koch Brothers must have laughed their asses off.
SunSeeker
(51,550 posts)Now Trump will get to appoint 2 in less than 1 year.
Not Ruth
(3,613 posts)SunSeeker
(51,550 posts)a kennedy
(29,655 posts)CK_John
(10,005 posts)Not Ruth
(3,613 posts)Because that would definitely lead the US news
CK_John
(10,005 posts)Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(107,956 posts)roamer65
(36,745 posts)It's already happening and will become more prominent as things get worse.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)That's why they let Trump do and say whatever he wants. The Supreme Court. And he knows it.
Not Ruth
(3,613 posts)octoberlib
(14,971 posts)he actually retires . He's just "thinking about it" now. He's under massive pressure from the GOP to retire so it'll be interesting to see how long he can hold out.