JUDGE BRETT M. KAVANAUGH
by Sharon Rondeau
(Jul. 9, 2018) — President Trump will be announcing his choice for the U.S. Supreme Court to replace retiring Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy.
According to Fox News, Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Amy Coney Barrett was disqualified earlier on Monday but that she “would likely be Trump’s choice” if a third justice should step down.
Fox’s John Roberts said that the AP reported that Trump’s nominee is Brett Kavanaugh, also reported by CNBC before 9:00 p.m.
Kavanaugh is a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
A 9:02 p.m. Trump approached the lectern and thanked Kennedy for his service.
Trump had said on Monday morning that he had not decided who to nominate but that he would settle on one of four top contenders by noon.
During his remarks, Trump recognized the late Associate Justice Antonin Scalia, who passed away in February 2017.
At 9:05, Trump announced his choice as Kavanaugh, who then appeared with his wife and two daughters.
Trump then said that Kavanaugh is considered to be “one of the finest and sharpest legal minds of our time.” As Trump noted, Kavanaugh clerked for Kennedy early in his career.
At 9:10 p.m., Kavanaugh was invited to the lectern, where he thanked Trump for the nomination, said he was honored to have been chosen to fill Kennedy’s seat, and spoke about his background.
Both of his parents went to law school later in life, with his mother becoming a prosecutor, Kavanaugh said.
“A judge must interpret the Constitution as written,” Kavanaugh said he believes. A practicing Catholic, Kavanaugh acknowledged a priest present in the room for whom he once was an altar boy, he said.
Call it hearsay, but I heard that Justice Kennedy told Trump he would retire only if Kavanaugh, a former cleark of Kennedy’s, was appointed. For me, this is a black mark on Trump. Cutting a deal for a supreme court justice? I can’t tell you how disgusted I am.
For me, the litmus test on Kavanaugh is the use of international law. Kennedy was notorious for seeking guidance from international law, which has NOTHING to do with our constitution. I’m sure we can get into deep philosophical arguments about underlying conceptual foundations. But I believe Kennedy using international law was him simply turning his back on our constitution. Even more disgusting.