1. Who is Brett Kavanaugh?
Brett Kavanaugh is the man that President Donald Trump nominated on July 9, 2018 to become an Associate Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. Kavanaugh, 53, is a Yale and Yale Law School grad who is a former clerk for retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy and aide to President George W. Bush. Kavanaugh has served on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit since 2006.
2. Why Do we need a new U.S. Supreme Court Justice?
Last week, Justice Anthony Kennedy, 81, announced his retirement. He was appointed as an Associate Justice by President Ronald Reagan in 1988. This will be Trump’s second Supreme Court pick after Justice Neil Gorsuch was approved last year.
3. Why is this pick so important?
This Justice-to-be will be the “swing vote” in many cases heard by the court. With the court comprised of four conservative-leaning and four liberal-leaning justices, President Trump could solidify the court’s decisions to lean toward the conservative opinion for years to come. Some say that this could be the most conservative court in generations. The right would basically be in control of the executive, legislative (as its currently comprised), and judicial branches of government.
4. How are the Democrats & Republicans responding?
Response to Kavanaugh’s nomination has run down party lines. .
Republican U.S. Senator Mike Lee (Utah) quickly tweeted that Kavanaugh is “…a smart and fair judge, one of the most admired appellate judges in the country.” On the other side of the aisle, DNC Chair Tom Perez released a statement saying “Judge Kavanaugh should not be allowed anywhere near our nation’s highest bench.” Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D) said in a statement “…Brett Kavanaugh must convince me he can actually be independent.”
While conservatives and republicans are largely pleased with the nomination, as it will solidify a conservation position on the court, Democrats fear the pick will undermine the 1973 landmark Roe v. Wade decision on abortion. They also fear that the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”) could also beat risk.
5. Who are the other U.S. Supreme Court Justices?
The other U.S. Supreme Court Justices are:
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Chief Justice | Appointed by
President George W. Bush in 2005 (Leans Conservative) |
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Clarence Thomas | Appointed by
President George H.W. Bush in 1991 (Leans Conservative) |
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Ruth Bader Ginsburg | Appointed by
President Bill Clinton in 1993 (Leans Liberal) |
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Stephen G. Breyer | Appointed by
President Bill Clinton in 1994 (Leans Liberal) |
 |
Samuel A. Alito, Jr | Appointed by
President George W. Bush in 2006 (Leans Conservative) |
 |
Sonia Sotomayor | Appointed by
President Barack Obama in 2009 (Leans Liberal) |
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Elena Kagan | Appointed by
President Barack Obama in 2010 (Leans Liberal) |
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Neil M. Gorsuch | Appointed by
President Donald Trump in 2017 (Leans Conservative) |
Bonus Fact about U.S. Supreme Court justices:
On July 6, 1835, Chief Justice John Marshall died in Philadelphia. Legend has it that the Liberty Bell cracked while tolling his death. This legend may or may not be true, but it makes for a good story!
