The Associated Press and CNN both reported that speculation is swirling that Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy could announce his retirement when the Court’s term ends at the end of June. While conservative on some issues, he is socially very liberal. He has voted several times to upholdRoe v. Wade, and cast the deciding vote in the same-sex “marriage” ruling in 2015.
But Kennedy, now 80, is said to be considering stepping down from the Supreme Court, according to CNN, though he has not publicly signalled he will do so in the next year.
Fueling such speculation is a reunion between Kennedy and his clerks happening over the weekend that was pushed up a year from its original date, according to the AP.
If Kennedy leaves the Supreme Court in the near future, it would pave the way for President Trump to further shape the court by nominating his replacement. Trump’s first pick for the court, Justice Neil Gorsuch, was confirmed in April.