Stories tagged with: supreme court

• Kavanaugh appears likely to gain Senate approval

  by Tom Strode, posted Friday, September 07, 2018 (6 years ago)

  

  Screen capture from C-Span

  WASHINGTON (BP) -- Brett Kavanaugh appears likely to gain confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court after completing the gauntlet that is now the hearing process for nominees to the country's highest bench.

  The Senate is expected to hold a confirmation vote on Kavanaugh, 53, before the Supreme Court begins its term Oct. 1. President Trump nominated the appeals court judge July 9 following the retirement of Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy.

  Kavanaugh -- a judge on the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals -- appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee Sept. 4-6. He received on the last two days often tough questioning from Democrats in particular. His responses seemed not to damage his support among Senate Republicans, who hold a 51-49 advantage, and some of his supporters expressed confidence a few Democrats would join them in an affirmative confirmation vote in which only a majority is required. Read More

• Kavanaugh hearings open, abortion draws spotlight

  by David Roach, posted Tuesday, September 04, 2018 (6 years ago)

  

  Screen capture from U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee.

  WASHINGTON (BP) -- Abortion drew the spotlight today (Sept. 4) as the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee's confirmation hearings opened for judge Brett Kavanaugh, President Trump's nominee to replace retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy on the Supreme Court.

  The Judiciary Committee's top Democrat, Dianne Feinstein of California, expressed concern about Kavanaugh's seeming willingness to restrict abortion rights, and more than 30 protestors were arrested in the hearing room, including some who touted abortion rights. Read More

• Evangelical leaders embrace Kavanaugh nomination

  by Tom Strode, posted Tuesday, July 10, 2018 (6 years ago)

  

  Wikimedia Commons photo.

  WASHINGTON (BP) -- Southern Baptist and other evangelical Christian leaders embraced President Trump's nomination of federal appeals court judge Brett Kavanaugh Monday (July 9) and called for his quick confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court.

  Trump announced his selection of Kavanaugh, 53, Monday night from the White House, ending speculation on who would be chosen from a list of 25 potential nominees -- all considered conservatives -- that the administration had released in November in anticipation of the next open seat on the high court. Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy announced his retirement from the Supreme Court on its final day of the term, June 27. Read More

• FIRST-PERSON: A page in our history can be turned

  by Andrew T. Walker, posted Tuesday, July 10, 2018 (6 years ago)

  Judge Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court, Andrew Walker writes, is an opportunity "to reverse historic wrongs and injustices overseen by Supreme Court justices who acted as Philosopher-Kings instead of dispassionate interpreters of the Constitution." Read More

• Debate begins on next high court nominee

  by Tom Strode, posted Thursday, June 28, 2018 (6 years ago)

  

  iStock

  WASHINGTON (BP) -- The retirement announcement of Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy quickly ushered in guessing games on whom President Trump would next nominate to the Supreme Court and how long Roe v. Wade and other rulings would survive.

  Kennedy, long the high court's swing vote on controversial decisions, told Trump in a letter Wednesday (June 27) after the final opinions of the term were announced that his retirement as an associate justice would take effect July 31. He served 30 years on the court after his nomination by President Reagan and his Senate confirmation. Read More

• Court ruling to help Christian teachers, supporters say

  by Tom Strode, posted Wednesday, June 27, 2018 (6 years ago)

  

  iStock

  WASHINGTON (BP)-- Christians and other teachers in public schools, as well as the school-choice movement, stand to benefit from the U.S. Supreme Court's decision today (June 27) that public-sector unions may not require fees from nonmembers, supporters of the ruling say.

  In a 5-4 opinion, the high court ruled against such mandates by government and public-sector unions and overturned a 41-year-old Supreme Court decision in the process. The justices decided such a requirement on workers who refuse to join the union is a violation of free-speech protections in the First Amendment.

  "States and public-sector unions may no longer extract agency fees from nonconsenting employees," Associate Justice Samuel Alito wrote in the court's opinion. Read More

• Kennedy's departure opens 2nd seat for Trump to fill

  by Diana Chandler, posted Wednesday, June 27, 2018 (6 years ago)

  

  WASHINGTON (BP) -- U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy has announced his retirement effective July 31, ending 30 years of service that began with his 1988 confirmation in the Ronald Reagan administration.

  Kennedy's resignation opens a second seat for President Donald Trump to fill. In 2017, Congress amended rules to allow confirmation of justices by a simple majority vote, enabling the appointment of Justice Neil Gorsuch.

  Southern Baptist ethicist Russell Moore noted the gravity of the upcoming appointment. Read More

• High court affirms pregnancy centers' speech rights

  by Tom Strode, posted Tuesday, June 26, 2018 (6 years ago)

  

  iStock

  WASHINGTON (BP) -- The U.S. Supreme Court delivered a key free-speech victory for pro-life pregnancy centers today (June 26) by a 5-4 vote.

  The high court reversed a lower court decision regarding a California law that, in part, essentially requires pregnancy care centers to promote abortion services. The justices ruled the pregnancy centers that challenged the measure would likely succeed in their assertion it violates the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and returned the case to a federal court for reconsideration in light of their opinion. Read More

• High court annuls ruling against florist

  by Tom Strode, posted Monday, June 25, 2018 (6 years ago)

  

  Image: iStock/license purchase required.

  WASHINGTON (BP) -- The U.S. Supreme Court provided a promising directive today (June 25) in the ongoing effort by business owners to practice their faith convictions.

  The justices issued an order that annulled a lower-court ruling against Washington state florist Barronelle Stutzman, a Southern Baptist who declined to design flowers for a same-sex wedding. The order also instructed the Washington Supreme Court to reconsider its previous decision in light of the justices' June 4 opinion in favor of a Colorado cake artist who refused ... Read More

• Chemical abortions on hold in Arkansas

  by Samantha Gobba/WORLD, posted Tuesday, June 05, 2018 (6 years ago)

  

  iStock

  WASHINGTON (BP) -- The Supreme Court refused on Tuesday (May 29) to hear a lawsuit over a 2015 Arkansas law that requires abortionists to contract with doctors at nearby hospitals who can help women if complications arise from the use of mifepristone and misoprostol, drugs that work together to end early pregnancies.

  Pro-life leaders cheered the move while Planned Parenthood took its next step in challenging the law. A hearing was set for Friday in Little Rock, Ark. Meanwhile, the abortion giant has canceled appointments at its facilities in Fayetteville and Little Rock. Read More