President Trump announces Judge Brett Kavanaugh as Supreme Court Justice nominee

WASHINGTON — President Trump announced U.S. Circuit Court Judge Brett Kavanaugh as his second Supreme Court justice pick less than two years into his presidency.

Kavanuagh has been nominated as a replacement for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, who announced his retirement this week.

In a prime-time announcement in the East Room of the White House, President Trump set the stage for a high-stakes battle over a nominee who lawmakers from both sides of the political spectrum have argued could alter the course of the nation's highest court for a generation.

"Judge Kavanaugh has impeccable credentials, unsurpassed qualifications and a proven commitment to equal justice under law," Trump said during the announcement.

Kavanaugh stood at the podium and told reporters he is "honored" to be fill Justice Kennedy's seat on the Supreme Court.

Shortly after the announcement, former President George W. Bush released a statement saying the president made an "outstanding decision" in nominating Kavanaugh.

Kavanaugh, 53, is a Yale Law School graduate who has served on the D.C. Circuit Court for 12 years and was once a former clerk to the retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy. While Kavanaugh was framed as the more “establishment” conservative pick of the other candidates, various Republicans had phoned President Trump last week to voice their objections over his potential nomination, including a 2011 opinion where he declined to rule the Obamacare health insurance mandate as unconstitutional.

Democrats, meanwhile, have raised alarm not just over Kavanaugh’s conservative bona fides, but one of past academic writings in which he argued presidents “should be excused from some of the burdens of ordinary citizenship while serving in office” such as responding to civil lawsuits and investigative inquiries based out of criminal charges. Such a stance could prove relevant if the Supreme Court is ever tasked with deciding the fate of actions in Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation, such as an attempt at subpoenaing the president for an interview.

After attending the nomination ceremony at the White House, U.S. Senator David Perdue commented on the announcement:

"President Trump has again fulfilled his promise to the American people and put forward an outstanding nominee to serve on the United States Supreme Court. Throughout his remarkable legal career, Brett Kavanaugh has shown a commitment to upholding our country's Constitution. These principles are the bedrock of our nation and have made the United States exceptional since its founding. Judge Kavanaugh has an impressive academic and legal background. He graduated from Yale Law School, clerked for Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, served as staff secretary for President George W. Bush, and served on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit for more than a decade. Judge Kavanaugh understands the long-lasting impact Supreme Court decisions have on our nation, and I look forward to meeting with him soon." 

Georgia Senator Johnny Isakson issued the following statement regarding the nomination:

"I congratulate Judge Kavanaugh, who is a talented and experienced jurist, on his nomination to our nation's highest court. I firmly believe that justices who understand and apply the law based on the U.S. Constitution, and not on their own personal political views, should fill seats on our Supreme Court. Judge Kavanaugh's record indicates that he shares a strong commitment to the Constitution and the rule of law. I look forward to meeting with him soon and working with my Senate colleagues and the administration during the confirmation process to ensure that this highly qualified candidate is voted on by the Senate in time for the Court's next session."

The president previously told reporters he was considering two women and planned to interview several potential candidates for the job this past weekend, The Associated Press reported.

The president on Wednesday, the day Kennedy, 81, announced his retirement, said that he'll draw from a list of 25 candidates that he used to nominate Justice Neil Gorsuch last year.

Kennedy was appointed to the nation's highest court by President Ronald Reagan in 1987.

"It has been the greatest honor and privilege to serve our nation in the federal judiciary for 43 years, 30 of those years on the Supreme Court," Kennedy said in a statement.

In announcing his retirement Wednesday, he also said he wanted to spend more time with his family.

Kennedy is the longest-serving justice currently on the court.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell also announced his intention Wednesday to move quickly in replacing Kennedy, saying that lawmakers will vote this fall before the mid-term elections to approve of Kennedy's replacement.

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Cox Media Group