US Supreme Court Justice Kennedy to retire

Washington D.C. [USA], Jun 28 (ANI): The United States' Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy on Wednesday announced his retirement, saying he will officially step down from the post by July 31.

The announcement will pave way for US President Donald Trump to choose a "more reliable conservative justice," thereby cementing further control of the top court, USAToday reported.

Justice Kennedy, who served in the US Supreme Court for 30 years, has held the key vote on high-profile matters such as abortion, same-sex marriage and capital punishment.

The 81-year-old justice was appointed by then-president Ronald Reagan in 1988.

In a letter to Trump, Justice Kennedy wrote, "My dear Mr. President, for a member of the legal profession it is the highest of honours to serve on this court. Please permit me by this letter to express my profound gratitude for having had the privilege to seek in each case how best to know, interpret, and defend the Constitution and the laws that must always conform to its mandates and promises."

Among other judges on the US President's nominee list are - Thomas Hardiman of Pennsylvania, who serves on the US Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit, Raymond Kethledge of Michigan, who serves on the 6th Circuit and newly confirmed federal appeals court judges Amy Coney Barrett of Indiana and Amul Thapar of Kentucky, as per the report.

Calling Justice Kennedy a "great justice" who has displayed "tremendous vision and heart," Trump said a search for his successor will start "immediately."

Trump is in a similar spot like former president George W. Bush, when the former appointed a more conservative justice, Samuel Alito in place of moderate justice Sandra Day O'Connor in 2006.

The Republican Party is determined to fill Justice Kennedy's seat before the court's 2018 term and mid-term elections begin in October and November respectively. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI