United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday nominated Brett Kavanaugh for the Supreme Court as a replacement for Justice Anthony Kennedy, who is set to retire on July 31.
“Judge Kavanaugh has impeccable credentials, unsurpassed qualifications and a proven commitment to equal justice under the law,” Trump said after nominating Kavanaugh. “He is a brilliant jurist with a clear and effective writing style, universally regarded as one of the finest and sharpest legal minds of our time.”
Kavanaugh thanked the president for the nomination. “No president has ever consulted more widely, or talked with more people from more backgrounds to seek input about a Supreme Court nomination.”
Kavanaugh is a District of Columbia appeals court judge and served as an advisor to former President George W Bush, reported BBC. He previously worked for Kenneth Starr, the independent counsel who investigated Democratic former President Bill Clinton in the 1990s. In 2009, however, Kavanaugh changed his stance on the Starr probe, arguing that presidents should be free from civil lawsuits, criminal prosecutions and investigations while in office.
Kavanaugh is an ideological conservative who is expected to push the court towards the right on a number of issues including business regulation and national security, reported CNBC. Since US Supreme Court justices hold a lifetime appointment, Kavanaugh potentially could serve for decades.
In order to be appointed to the Supreme Court, Kavanaugh’s nomination must now be confirmed by the US Senate, which the Republican Party narrowly controls 51-49. A nominee needs a simple majority of 51 votes to be confirmed.
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