Why the Vital Supreme Court Opening Must be Filled with a Constitutional Conservative

Justice Anthony Kennedy has just announced that he will retire from the Supreme Court effective July 31.

I have had the privilege of appearing before Justice Kennedy on numerous occasions over the past three decades. While he often ruled in our favor—even when he disagreed, he did so in a way that was insightful and reasoned. As he did with Justice Neil Gorsuch, President Trump once again has the opportunity to nominate a Justice who embraces a judicial philosophy respecting the rule of law and the Constitution.

Wednesday’s announcement presents a critical opening on the Supreme Court. The next Supreme Court Justice could serve for decades to come. More importantly, based on the pivotal role that Justice Kennedy played, known as a swing vote, the selection of the next Justice could literally remake the Supreme Court. It could affect every Supreme Court case for the next generation.

We have an opportunity like no time in my lifetime to ensure that there is a consistently conservative Supreme Court majority that will enforce the Constitution and uphold the rule of law.

As we have seen just this week from three straight 5-4 decisions (with Justice Kennedy siding with the conservative majority) a solid conservative majority has the power to overturn wrongly reasoned liberal activist opinions from years past. As we also saw this week, free speech, life, the separation of powers and more are all at stake.

President Trump has already promised to pick from the 25 conservatives on his short list, and Senate Majority Leader McConnell has already indicated that the Senate will vote on such a nominee by the fall.

We are urging the swift confirmation of a conservative nominee so that there is a full complement of Justices by the opening of the next Supreme Court term on the first Monday in October.

For the original article, visit aclj.org. {eoa}