description Anthony M. Kennedy Overview
Anthony M. Kennedy served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1988 to 2018. Nominated by President Ronald Reagan, he previously served on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. During his tenure on the Supreme Court, he was often the pivotal swing vote in closely divided cases.
He authored the majority opinion in several landmark decisions, including *Obergefell v. Hodges*, which legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.
help Anthony M. Kennedy FAQ
Which major LGBTQ rights opinions did Anthony Kennedy write?
Kennedy wrote the majority opinions in Lawrence v. Texas, United States v. Windsor, and Obergefell v. Hodges. Obergefell established a constitutional right to same-sex marriage nationwide in 2015.
Why was Anthony Kennedy called the Supreme Court's swing justice?
After Sandra Day O'Connor retired in 2006, Kennedy frequently occupied the ideological center of a closely divided Court. His vote was decisive in prominent 5-4 cases involving marriage, campaign finance, and capital punishment.
What position did Kennedy take on abortion in Planned Parenthood v. Casey?
Kennedy joined Justices Sandra Day O'Connor and David Souter in the controlling joint opinion that preserved Roe's central holding. Casey also adopted the undue-burden standard for evaluating abortion restrictions.
Who replaced Anthony Kennedy on the Supreme Court?
Kennedy retired on July 31, 2018, after roughly three decades on the Court. President Donald Trump nominated Brett Kavanaugh, who was confirmed to fill the vacancy.
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