President Donald Trump says he’ll “immediately” begin a search for new Supreme Court justice after Anthony Kennedy announces his retirement Wednesday. Trump describes Kennedy as a man of “tremendous vision.” (June 27) AP
Hours after Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy’s retirement announcement set off a political earthquake, President Donald Trump told supporters in North Dakota he wants to pick a replacement who can serve for more than four decades and cement a conservative majority on the high court.
“We have to pick a great one, we have to pick one that’s going to be there for 40 years, 45 years,” Trump told a rally during at a hockey arena in Fargo, N.D. “We need intellect, we need so many things.”
While praising Kennedy, Trump said, “I’m very honored that he chose to do it during my term in office, because he felt confident in me to make the right choice and carry on his great legacy. That’s why he did it.”
The sudden Supreme Court vacancy spiced up a political rally for Rep. Kevin Cramer, a Republican who is challenging incumbent Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp in a key race that could decide political control of the Senate — the chamber that confirms high court nominees.
While Republican leaders want to confirm a Kennedy replacement before this year’s congressional elections, Trump said the retirement announcement “makes the issue of Senate control one of the most important issues of our time.”
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