WASHINGTON — Pennsylvania’s senators had opposite reactions to Wednesday’s announcement that Justice Anthony Kennedy is retiring from the U.S. Supreme Court as of July 31.
U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey said he’s looking forward to meeting with President Donald Trump’s nominee in the coming weeks.
“Justice Anthony Kennedy has admirably served our nation for the past 30 years as a Supreme Court Justice,” Toomey said. “He will be remembered as a thoughtful and fair jurist. I thank Justice Kennedy for his service and wish him nothing but the best in the future.”
The Republican senator continued, “In the coming weeks, President Trump will announce a nominee to fill this vacancy on the Supreme Court. This person should be committed to the rule of law and ensuring everyone is treated fairly under it. Moreover, whoever is nominated should understand the proper role of a judge is to apply the law, including the U.S. Constitution, as written.”
However, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, a Democrat and harsh critic of Trump, said Republicans should follow the rule put forth after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia in February 2016.
“Majority Leader (Mitch) McConnell once said that ‘the American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice,’ so he should ensure that’s the case and follow his own rule. The Senate should only consider this nomination when a new Senate is seated in January,” Casey said.
Former President Barack Obama’s choice to fill the vacancy was Merrick Garland. However, McConnell said a new nominee should only be considered after the general election. Garland never got a confirmation hearing or a vote. Instead, Trump appointed Neil Gorsuch.
Casey continued, “Thus far, the Trump Administration has nominated many far-right judges who put the interests of big corporations ahead of justice and fairness for all Americans.”
The Democratic senator said he’s unlikely to support a candidate from the far right.
“Justices who sit on the most important court in the world should not be selected by corporate interests and extreme right organizations,” Casey said.
“Over and over again, the current Supreme Court majority has only represented the interests of extreme right-wing ideologues and big corporations,” he said. “In this term, the Supreme Court has issued rulings that would decimate labor unions, deny many Americans their right to vote and allow partisan gerrymandering to continue. This nation deserves a Supreme Court Justice who will be guided by the principle of equal justice under the law for all Americans.”
