US: Trump picks Kavanaugh to succeed Kennedy as SC judge
What's the story
US President Donald Trump today nominated conservative Brett Kavanaugh as the Supreme Court Judge to succeed Justice Anthony Kennedy, who announced his retirement recently.
Trump picked Justice Kavanaugh from his original list of 25 judges, which also included prominent Indian-American judge Amul Thapar, from which he had said he would nominate for any vacancy in the Supreme Court.
Here's more.
Justice Kennedy
July 31, the last working day for Justice Kennedy
53-year-old Kavanaugh from Maryland is currently a judge in the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
Justice Kennedy, 81, announced his retirement on June 27 after serving the federal judiciary for 43 years, 30 of those on the SC. He met Trump at the White House after he told his colleagues that July 31 would be his last working day.
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Trump throws heaps of praises towards his nominee
"Judge Kavanaugh has impeccable credentials, unsurpassed qualifications, and a proven commitment to equal justice under the law. Throughout legal circles, he is considered a judge's judge, a true thought leader among his peers," Trump said.
US judge
Kavanaugh has authored more than 300 opinions
The nomination of Judge Kavanaugh comes after a selection process marked by a historic degree of transparency, including the President's public disclosure of a list of 25 highly-qualified potential nominees.
Serving as a judge on the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit since 2006, he authored more than 300 opinions, including 11 that have been affirmed by the Supreme Court.
Working with Bush
Kavanaugh also served in Bush administration
Prior to becoming a judge, Kavanaugh served in the George W Bush administration, first as an associate counsel and then senior associate counsel, and subsequently as assistant to the President and the staff secretary.
A graduate of Yale College and Yale Law School, Judge Kavanaugh clerked on the SC for Justice Kennedy, and for judges on the Third and Ninth Circuit Courts of Appeals.
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A judge must interpret the law, not make it: Kavanaugh
"My judicial philosophy is straightforward. A judge must be independent and must interpret the law, not make the law. A judge must interpret statutes as written and must interpret the Constitution as written, informed by history and tradition and precedent," Kavanaugh said.
Praising Trump
Kavanaugh to begin Senate meeting tomorrow
Kavanaugh said that throughout the process, he witnessed first-hand the President's appreciation for the vital role of the American judiciary.
"No President has ever consulted more widely or talked with more people from more backgrounds to seek input about an SC nomination," he said.
Kavanaugh said from tomorrow he would begin meeting members of the Senate, which plays an essential role in the process.
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Nomination yet to be confirmed by Senate
Kavanaugh's nomination though needs to be confirmed by the Senate, which is bitterly divided over party lines. "If confirmed by the Senate, I will keep an open mind in every case and... always strive to preserve the US Constitution and the American law," Kavanaugh said.