JUDGE DREAD
Trump tightens grip on Supreme Court
FEARS are growing that Donald Trump may use the shock retirement of a Supreme Court judge to roll back the progress of civil rights.
Independent-minded Anthony Kennedy’s unexpected decision to go gives the President the chance to nominate a right-winger.
A widespread fear is that the new judge, who is appointed for life, could vote to overturn many progressive laws.
Nancy Pelosi, the House of Representatives’ Democrat leader, said: “Make no mistake: Republicans now have the opportunity to erase a generation of progress for women’s rights, LGBTQ rights, civil rights, workers’ rights and healthcare.”
Justice Kennedy, who is stepping down aged 81, is nominally a conservative but has often voted with liberals.
When he quits, there will be four Democrat and four Republicanappointed justices.
A “Trump pick” will hold the balance and sway rulings.
Mr Trump said the search for Mr Kennedy’s replacement would “begin immediately”. He told a rally: “We have to pick one that’s going to be there for 40 years, 45 years.”
The president tried to allay concerns, by telling supporters in North Dakota that Mr Kennedy had chosen to retire under his presidency “because he felt confident in me to make the right choice and carry on his great legacy”. He praised him as “a great justice of the Supreme Court” adding later: “Hopefully we are going to pick somebody who will be as outstanding.”
This will be Mr Trump’s second Supreme Court pick.
He has promised to use the list of 25 conservative names from which he picked Neil Gorsuch in February last year.
The Supreme Court plays a key role in US life and is often the final word on highly contentious laws.
This week it upheld Mr Trump’s travel ban on several Muslimmajority countries.
Earlier it backed a baker who refused to make a wedding cake for a gay couple.
Supreme Court justices serve for life unless they decide to retire.
On Wednesday Mr Kennedy said he will go on July 31 to spend more time with his family.
The constitution sets no qualifications for a justice, so a president may nominate anyone but his choice has to be confirmed by the Senate.