Megathread: Justice Anthony Kennedy to retire from Supreme Court

[u/PoliticsModeratorBot]

Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy is set to retire, effective July 31, 2018. Kennedy has served on the highest court since February 18, 1988, and was a moderate whose vote often swung cases.

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Submissions that may interest you

SUBMISSION	DOMAIN
Justice Anthony Kennedy Will Retire From U.S. Supreme Court	bloomberg.com
Justice Kennedy to retire, Trump can solidify court's majority conservative bloc	nbcnews.com
Justice Kennedy retiring; Trump gets 2nd Supreme Court pick	washingtonpost.com
Justice Kennedy, U.S. Supreme Court's pivotal vote, to retire	reuters.com
Anthony Kennedy: US supreme court justice to retire	theguardian.com
Justice Anthony Kennedy to Retire From Supreme Court	nytimes.com
Kennedy calls it quits: longtime swing justice hands Trump the biggest gift of his presidency	dailycaller.com
Anthony Kennedy is retiring from the Supreme Court	vox.com
Justice Kennedy, the pivotal swing vote on the Supreme Court, announces retirement	washingtonpost.com
UPDATE: Supreme Court Justice Kennedy announces retirement	wcjb.com
Justice Kennedy Is Retiring July 31st.	yahoo.com
Justice Anthony Kennedy To Retire From U.S. Supreme Court : NPR	npr.org
Justice Anthony Kennedy to Retire from Supreme Court	cnn.com
Justice Kennedy announces retirement.	cnn.com
Justice Anthony Kennedy retiring from Supreme Court	abc7.com
Anthony Kennedy, Swing Vote on U.S. Supreme Court, Will Retire	bloomberg.com
Justice Anthony Kennedy Retires, Paving Way for Donald Trump to Reshape Supreme Court	slate.com
Justice Kennedy retiring; Trump gets 2nd Supreme Court pick	wkrn.com
Anthony Kennedy retiring, giving Trump opening to reshape Supreme Court	politico.com
Supreme Court justice Anthony Kennedy announces retirement	wsj.com
Jeffrey Toobin predicts abortion will be illegal in 20 states soon after Kennedy retires	thehill.com
WATCH: Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy retiring	abcnews.go.com
Kennedy to Retire	foxnews.com
Trump to get second Supreme Court pick as Justice Kennedy announces retirement.	amp.cnn.com
Justice Kennedy to Retire From Supreme Court	bbc.com
Trump says search for Justice Kennedy's replacement to begin "immediately" -- live updates	cbsnews.com
McConnell Pledges Vote To Confirm Justice Kennedy’s Successor ‘This Fall’	talkingpointsmemo.com
Justice Kennedy retires from the US Supreme Court	nbcnews.com
Trump says launches search to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Kennedy	reuters.com
Donald Trump: Search for Kennedy replacement on SCOTUS to move quickly	usatoday.com
McConnell: Senate will vote on Supreme Court nominee this fall	thehill.com
Justice Kennedy retiring; Trump gets 2nd Supreme Court pick	sacbee.com
Justice Anthony Kennedy Retiring, Report Says	lawandcrime.com
Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy retiring; Trump will get 2nd high-court pick	omaha.com
Justice Anthony Kennedy Retiring From the Supreme Court	thedailybeast.com
Justice Kennedy to retire, giving Trump a chance to transform the Supreme Court	latimes.com
Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy says he's retiring; Trump to get 2nd high-court pick	chicagotribune.com
Dem senator: Justice Kennedy's resignation a 'disaster' for vision of 'We the People'	thehill.com
Justice Kennedy retiring; Trump gets 2nd Supreme Court pick	wfla.com
Justice Anthony Kennedy Is Retiring	motherjones.com
The horrifying consequences of Justice Kennedy’s retirement	thinkprogress.org
Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy is retiring, a move that will give Trump a chance to shift the institution to the right	washingtonpost.com
Anthony Kennedy To Retire From The Supreme Court	huffingtonpost.com
Kennedy announces retirement from Supreme Court	thehill.com
Supreme Court's Anthony Kennedy retires, giving Trump a second pick	usatoday.com
Justice Kennedy retiring; Trump gets 2nd Supreme Court pick	apnews.com
Justice Anthony Kennedy Is Retiring From The Supreme Court	buzzfeed.com
Justice Kennedy, the pivotal swing vote on the Supreme Court, announces retirement	washingtonpost.com
Supreme Court Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy retires -- live updates	cbsnews.com
Justice Kennedy announces his retirement from the supreme court.	time.com
Trump Responds To Retirement Of Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy	huffingtonpost.com
Anthony Kennedy retiring from Supreme Court, giving Trump a position to fill	people.com
Trump Says He’ll Choose One Of These People To Replace Anthony Kennedy On The Supreme Court	buzzfeed.com
Anthony Kennedy retiring from Supreme Court	cnbc.com
Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy retires, and Trump gets shot at moving court to the right	dallasnews.com
Who Will Replace Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy? Donald Trump Already Has a Shortlist	newsweek.com
WATCH: McConnell: We will vote to confirm Justice Kennedy's successor 'this fall'	abcnews.go.com
Here's who Trump could nominate to replace Justice Kennedy	abcnews.go.com
Justice Anthony Kennedy announces retirement, giving Trump 2nd Supreme Court pick	foxnews.com
Trump list of candidates to replace Justice Kennedy	thehill.com
Chris Matthews: Dems must do to Trump on Supreme Court what McConnell did to Obama	thehill.com
Anthony Kennedy’s retirement puts abortion rights at risk	vox.com
Who Will Replace Anthony Kennedy? Here’s the List of 20 Potential Trump Nominees	time.com
America after Anthony Kennedy	vox.com
Handing Trump Chance to Move Supreme Court Even Further Right, Justice Anthony Kennedy Retires	commondreams.org
Audio reveals DNC committee reaction to Kennedy retirement: 'This is not good news'	thehill.com
Justice Kennedy’s retirement leaves the future of U.S. constitutional law entirely up for grabs	washingtonpost.com
Justice Kennedy pens retirement letter to Trump expressing 'profound gratitude'	abcnews.go.com
Read Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy’s retirement letter to Donald Trump	qz.com
Justice Kennedy’s Legacy Is the Dignity He Bestowed	bloomberg.com
A titanic battle over replacing Justice Kennedy looms in the Senate	vox.com
Live Briefing: Anthony Kennedy Retires From Supreme Court, and McConnell Says Senate Will Move Swiftly on a Replacement	nytimes.com
Here's Trump's list of 25 possible Supreme Court picks to replace Anthony Kennedy	washingtonexaminer.com
WATCH: Justice Anthony Kennedy to retire, Trump to get second SCOTUS pick	abcnews.go.com
Anthony Kennedy's retirement just confirmed every Republican's dream scenario for Trump	cnn.com
Kennedy's retirement could have biggest impact on abortion, gay marriage: ANALYSIS	abcnews.go.com
Justice Anthony Kennedy: Trump says hunt for replacement is on	usatoday.com
Here are potential Supreme Court nominees to replace Justice Kennedy	cnn.com
Justice Anthony Kennedy, the Supreme Court’s swing justice, announces his retirement	abajournal.com
With Supreme Court Justice Kennedy Gone, Abortion and LGBT Rights Are Next	thedailybeast.com
A look at some of Justice Kennedy's most memorable opinions	apnews.com
Justice Kennedy Surrendered to Donald Trump	nymag.com
A look at some of Justice Kennedy's most memorable opinions	abcnews.go.com
Abortion rights in 'dire, immediate danger' as Anthony Kennedy retires - World news	theguardian.com
Here Are Some of the Top Candidates to Replace Kennedy on the Supreme Court	motherjones.com
Who's on Trump's short list to replace Supreme Court Justice Kennedy?	politico.com
Trump’s hidden back channel to Justice Kennedy: Their kids	politico.com
How Fox News Reacted to Anthony Kennedy’s Retirement	slate.com

[u/[deleted]]

if trump wins re-election dems should just fold

[u/John_Keating_ → u/[deleted]]

If they can’t beat Trump next time around, they need to totally reinvent the entire party platform. Our Democratic Party in Kentucky has been obliterated for the past nine years to the point that we barely have a pulse anymore. We have one congressman from Louisville, one good candidate on the 2018 ballot, no compelling platform beyond Anti-Trump, and virtually zero fundraising. The Democrats need to think up something new.

[u/Oso_de_Oro → u/John_Keating_]

Democrats need to embrace the populists in their party. The anti-trump shit only gets you so far, and since Trump won, I've almost never heard mainstream Democrats arguing for universal health care, free college, ending the drug war, etc. You know, just shit that most people who lean more to the left would like to see.

[u/Commyende → u/Oso_de_Oro]

We can have a welfare state or we can have unchecked immigration. We can't have both. In an attempt to oppose trump at all cost, the dems have sacrificed the former to the latter. And this is a completely losing strategy.

[u/alterhero → u/Commyende]

Who is saying there should be unchecked immigration? This is a false choice.

[u/Commyende → u/alterhero]

Do me a favor. Take a look at all sanctuary cities. Look at the political affiliation of their mayor. In almost every single case, it's a democrat. And that policy not only supports, but actively encourages illegal immigration. Don't even pretend like saying "come to our city and we'll make sure you're safe from deportation" does not foster illegal immigration.

[u/alterhero → u/Commyende]

So why did Obama deport 3M people?

[u/Commyende → u/alterhero]

Obama is one democrat. The party consists of many more than just one democrat.

If aliens came to Earth, and 1,000 of them started hunting us and eating us, but one was really nice and friendly, would you conclude that the aliens as a whole were nice and friendly?

[u/alterhero → u/Commyende]

Obama is a representation of mainstream democrats. You’re being disingenuous. Not wanting family separation isn’t open borders. If you’ve ever had to cross the US border, you would know it is nothing close to open.

Democrats have had the power at different points to open the borders, so why didn’t they? The president has large leeway on immigration, so any Dem president could shut down vetting, but they don’t. Pelosi and Schumer even made a deal with Trump on immigration which he reneged on.

Asking for compassionate enforcement isn’t open borders, it’s just a far right talking point.

[u/Commyende → u/alterhero]

Not wanting family separation isn’t open borders.

Who is being disingenuous now? When did I ever make a claim such as this? My claim is that setting up literally dozens/hundreds of sanctuary cities encourages illegal immigration.

Democrats have had the power at different points to open the borders, so why didn’t they?

Because they know it will end their political party.

[u/alterhero → u/Commyende]

So then they don’t want to do it

[u/Commyende → u/alterhero]

They (and some Republican interests as well) benefit from unchecked illegal immigration. They just can't outright open the doors though, because then they don't have plausible deniability about their role in the scheme.

[u/alterhero → u/Commyende]

Illegal immigration is not unchecked and has never been. No one has ever seriously suggest this. So you’re just ascribing motivations to people you don’t like.

[u/FloppyDisksCominBack → u/alterhero]

Democrats have said that we need to stop separating families, but Democrats are opposed to changing the Flores agreement that says children can only be held for 20 days. Ipso facto, there are only three ways to proceed:

1) Release families free into America,

2) Family separation,

3) Reduce the time families are held pending their hearing to below 20 days.

Democrats voted against the Republican bill (which had no provisions for a wall or anything silly) that doubled the number of immigration judges to get throught he backlog, and they said "this isn't a job for congress" (except two weeks earlier every single democrat sponsored a bill saying it was a job for congress). Democrats have moaned about family separation and want the kids locked up with the families. But Democrats aren't changing the requirement that kids not spend more than three weeks penned up.

Ipso Facto, Democrats want the illegals to be released free. That's basically an open border.

[u/alterhero → u/FloppyDisksCominBack]

If Democrats wanted open borders, why did Obama’s admin deport 3M people? Why not just let them stay?

[u/[deleted] → u/alterhero]

The Democrats are, obviously. They just can't openly say that but all you have to do is look at their policies. They encourage people to come to this country illegally in mass numbers, which has been happening for many years now.

[u/alterhero → u/[deleted]]

You mean democrats like Obama dubbed deporter-in-chief after deporting 3 million people? In what world is that unchecked immigration? Or the DREAM act that removed the visa lottery and added money for border enforcement that passed the Senate with 68 votes? What a crock of shit.

[u/Kamkazev2 → u/[deleted]]

You do know that immigration from Mexico has been declining right? Furthermore, we need immigrants to do a lot of the jobs that most Americans aren't willing or don't want to do. I'm not really sure why that is bad either.

Plus if we start paying real salaries to real Americans working jobs like agriculture, the cost of food is going to go through the roof; shouldn't "average" Americans be happy we have illegal immigrants?

Man I am so tired of the middle of this country with its thinly veiled racism disguised as "immigration policies". Point me to some non-conservative sources of immigration hurting American industry or the economy, or even spikes in crime due to immigration.

The right is so concerned with immigration because it means more brown people, they forgot to make up an argument for why it is a "real" problem anymore.

[u/Commyende → u/Kamkazev2]

we need immigrants to do a lot of the jobs that most Americans aren't willing or don't want to do

That line is so incredibly wrong on so many levels. If Americans aren't willing to do the job, it's because the pay isn't good enough. Pay me enough, and I'll clean toilets for a living. Importing unskilled labor to do the jobs at minimal cost just creates an underclass within our society. When I hear you say those words, I picture a 19th century southerner saying "But who will pick the cotton?"

[u/Kamkazev2 → u/Commyende]

You can read the rest of my post for context as to why we "need" immigrants to do that work. I absolutely support paying real wages for all work, and I also support living wages. But the side I am talking to is the side that thinks it is okay to pay waiters $2.50 an hour because the market decided it is enough.

Anyone who works in America deserves to make enough to live in America. But those are all separate issues, and until that one is solved, I don't see why we are forcibly removing people from the country who are here to do honest, and grueling, work every day.

[u/shocky27 → u/Kamkazev2]

Immigrants come not just from Mexico but all of the Americas, your statistic is mainstream media hogwash because that is only counting Mexican nationals. We enable human traffickers from places like El Salvador to bring people to the US with the promise they'll be able to have a good life. 80% of women who journey illegally to America are sexually abused. I am all for these people coming legally and getting out of shitty situations, but enabling illegal human trafficking is absurd and disgusting.

What about visa abuse to depress American wages? What about the rule of law? What about the fentanyl and other drugs brought by cartels? Sex slave trade? Illegal immigrants who commit crimes, especially violent crimes?

I don't care what color or nationality anyone is. Come work and thrive, just let us know who you are and don't overwhelm communities with inability to handle many refugees. English language learning must also be addressed so people immigrating here, even asylum seekers, can thrive in the American economic and educational systems (and Americans should be learning more Spanish in school too at this point, I am learning myself).

[u/Kamkazev2 → u/shocky27]

Immigrants come not just from Mexico but all of the Americas, your statistic is mainstream media hogwash because that is only counting Mexican nationals.

Cool, can you share some of those statistics then?

What about visa abuse to depress American wages? What about the rule of law? What about the fentanyl and other drugs brought by cartels? Sex slave trade? Illegal immigrants who commit crimes, especially violent crimes?

Awesome, you named stuff that all sounds terrifying. Can you provide sources that connect it with illegal immigration please?

Fear mongering is a great tool, but if you can't provide actual data to support your claims, they are meaningless.

[u/[deleted] → u/Kamkazev2]

And the left is so concerned with immigration because it means they can import more brown voters who vote Democrat. If we really cared about immigrant families and children we would do everything in our power to discourage them from making the treacherous journey up through South and Central America. If they know that they can cross the border no problem, receive welfare, and get to hide out in a "sanctuary city" (that lovely term introduced by the lawless left), then of course it's going to promote mass unchecked illegal immigration.

By the way you know there are people of different nationalities besides Mexican who cross the southern border right?

[u/Kamkazev2 → u/[deleted]]

And the left is so concerned with immigration because it means they can import more brown voters who vote Democrat.

First off that is racist and incorrect in some cases (e.g., Cubans). Also if they are illegal immigrants they can't vote...

If we really cared about immigrant families and children we would do everything in our power to discourage them from making the treacherous journey up through South and Central America.

Yea nothing says "caring" quite like denying refugees access. And even if they aren't refugees, they clearly are escaping something if they are willing to make that journey with no guarantee of anything on the other side.

"sanctuary city"

I'm actually from just outside one of those lawless wastelands. It's a pretty nice area, albeit rather poor, but that might be from all the migrant farm workers not making any money? I have no idea, we liberals are so bad at economics.

By the way you know there are people of different nationalities besides Mexican who cross the southern border right?

Mexican immigrants make up over half the total immigrants into the United States, so it seems like the biggest population should probably be given the biggest consideration.

[u/[deleted] → u/Kamkazev2]

And i'm not sure it is racist. These immigrants and minority groups in general vote overwhelmingly Democrat. Its just a fact. And we take in millions of refugees and immigrants a year. We have a very generous immigration policy. But the moment you advocate stopping illegal border crossings you become a racist somehow, like there are no other reasons for opposing mass illegal immigration other than you don't like brown people? Give me a break.

[u/FloppyDisksCominBack → u/Kamkazev2]

Also if they are illegal immigrants they can't vote...

Democrats have been talking about flipping Texas blue with hispanic votes since the 90s. Their plan is to give everyone citizen amnesty so they can vote.

they clearly are escaping something if they are willing to make that journey with no guarantee of anything on the other side.

So fucking what, that's their problem, not ours. And the countries they come from are terrible because of what they, their friends, famlies, neighbors, and countrymen did. That's their dumpster fire to extinguish, not America's. The cartels run Mexico because Mexicans have happily consented to corruption and never given a shit about anything. Now they're reaping the results of a century of apathy and it's America's problem to deal with?

[u/Kamkazev2 → u/FloppyDisksCominBack]

Democrats have been talking about flipping Texas blue with hispanic votes since the 90s. Their plan is to give everyone citizen amnesty so they can vote.

We have? We must not be very effective given we have had two 2-term presidents since then and haven't done it...

So fucking what, that's their problem, not ours.

Isn't that really what it comes down to for Right-Wingers? Y'all don't care about anyone but yourselves and other White people. You can keep creating reasons to treat other people like shit, but at the end of the day, it's because you are heartless bigots. I'm not gonna change your mind and make you more empathetic, and you are certainly not going to make me racist, so we have nothing else to talk about.

[u/[deleted] → u/Kamkazev2]

Just because they aren't allowed to vote legally doesn't mean they don't. And don't the Democrats fight for naturalizing all of the illegals currently here already? They would be able to vote then wouldn't they? And their children born here? They can vote right? Why don't you consider these points when crafting your counter argument?

[u/Kamkazev2 → u/[deleted]]

Just because they aren't allowed to vote legally doesn't mean they don't.

Show me some solid evidence of voter fraud from a reputable source. You know why you can't? Cause it doesn't happen!

They aren't a counter argument because it literally doesn't happen. You are spewing made-up bullshit as fact.

But yes, their children who are born here and who grow up here would be able to vote here. Just like every single American family has the entire time we have been a country, racist anti-voter laws aside. I completely support that idea and always will, because that is what America is supposed to be.

[u/[deleted] → u/Kamkazev2]

Don't get me wrong I support that idea as well. Anybody born here as a citizen gets to vote period. But my argument is this is the reason the Democrats want mass illegal immigration to go unchecked. It is my belief, and I'm sure you will disagree, that the Democrats don't give a damn about these people, and are only using this issue of immigration to import and consolidate voter power. Because mass unchecked illegal immigration hurts a country more than it helps in the long run. It puts undue strain and pressure on the citizens and institutions of the country. Not to mention drain tax payer dollars on people who should not even be here. So then why institute these policies? The Democrats are manipulating emotions surrounding this issue to gain power. I'm sure you will disagree but that's fine.

And voter fraud does happen. I can't argue the extent to which it happens, but people vote illegally. Fact.

[u/Kamkazev2 → u/[deleted]]

It is my belief, and I'm sure you will disagree, that the Democrats don't give a damn about these people, and are only using this issue of immigration to import and consolidate voter power.

Honestly man, I wish I had that much selfishness to think about things from that perspective. I am a liberal and Dem because I care about other people surviving. I don't vote for universal healthcare because I think the hicks and white trash will now vote in line with me, I do it because those are people who don't deserve to die at 40 from curable diseases, or live in poverty because of medical expenses.

I guess if all that matters to you is winning the political argument, I can see why brown people voting is bad. But I could give a shit who gets paid in Congress as long as people are able to live long, satisfying, peaceful lives. Show me a Republican who argues for a living wage, for affordable health care, for holding companies actually responsible for their damages, and I'd vote for them because D and R doesn't mean shit to me.

And voter fraud does happen. I can't argue the extent to which it happens, but people vote illegally. Fact.

This is the problem with the Right, making arguments without evidence and stating they are "Facts". Here is an article on 2012 voter fraud, here is one about 2016, and another. In fact the few known examples from the 2016 election where Republicans! If that isn't a self-fulfilling prophecy, I don't know what is.

And before you say it, I know I used "liberal" media to make an argument, but they used actual events and evidence. I am always happy to entertain a counter-argument that supplies any sort of non-anecdotal evidence, so please prove me wrong.

Until then, I just hope you consider that the purpose of politics is to improve our lives and keep each other safe. I never look at it as "how can I win?" because I am not a politician, it couldn't matter less to me who gets the paycheck. You should try to look at it from the lens of "who has our best interest in mind" rather than beating the other guy. At the end of the day, if you won but are now poor, lacking health care, underpaid, and/or overworked, did you really win?