Trump picks Kavanaugh to succeed Kennedy as US SC judge
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday 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.
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 to the Supreme Court.
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.
Announcing Kavanaugh's nomination from the White House, Trump described the 53-year-old, currently a judge in the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, as one with "impeccable credentials and one of the finest legal minds of our times".
"Tonight it is my honour and privilege to announce that I will nominate Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the United States Supreme Court," Trump said.
"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," he added.
Kavanaugh's nomination though needs to be confirmed by the Senate, which is bitterly divided over party lines.
Justice Kavanaugh has also served as a Counsel for the Office of Independent Counsel under Ken Starr and as a Partner at Kirkland & Ellis, LLP.
Justice Kennedy had announced his retirement on June 27 after serving the federal judiciary for 43 years, 30 of those on the Supreme Court. He met Trump at the White House soon after he told his colleagues that July 31 would be his last day at the apex court.
