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Live blog of nomination | July 9, 2018 (with First Mondays)

We live-blogged with First Mondays as President Donald Trump nominated Judge Brett Kavanaugh to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy on the Supreme Court.

3rd & 7 37yd

Thanking Kennedy for lifetime of distinguished service.

by Amy Howe 7/10/2018 1:03:55 AM
I think I see Maureen Scalia in the front row. Anyone?

by Amy Howe 7/10/2018 1:04:09 AM
Now talking about Gorsuch, nominated to replace "the late great justice Antonin Scalia."

by Amy Howe 7/10/2018 1:04:35 AM
Says he chose Gorsuch b/c he would be faithful servant of Constitution. Introduces Maureen Scalia, who stands up.

by Amy Howe 7/10/2018 1:05:01 AM
Kennedy and Scalia appointed by Reagan, who understood judges should apply Constitution as written.

by Amy Howe 7/10/2018 1:05:45 AM
Says he doesn't ask about a nominee's personal opinions. What matters, he says, is setting aside personal views to do what laws and Constitution require.

by Amy Howe 7/10/2018 1:06:23 AM
It is Kavanaugh.

by Amy Howe 7/10/2018 1:06:30 AM
Kavanaugh is coming out now, joined by his wife Ashley and their daughters.

by Amy Howe 7/10/2018 1:06:45 AM
All four Kavanaughs are standing on the stage/dais/whatever it is.

by Amy Howe 7/10/2018 1:07:13 AM
I wonder how Justice Kennedy would feel about being replaced by a Justice Kavanaugh?

by Johann 7/10/2018 1:07:37 AM
Everyone is still just clapping. Kavanaugh is wearing a dark blue tie to contrast with Trump's light-ish blue tie.

by Amy Howe 7/10/2018 1:07:52 AM
Says Kavanaugh has impeccable credentials, commitment to equal justice under the law.

by Amy Howe 7/10/2018 1:08:21 AM
Considered judge's judge, says Trump. A true thought leader among his peers. Universally regarded as one of the finest and sharpest legal minds of our times.

by Amy Howe 7/10/2018 1:08:48 AM
Has devoted his life to public services, says Trump. Authored over 300 opinions (reporters groan inwardly).

by Amy Howe 7/10/2018 1:09:28 AM
Active in community. Coaches Catholic Youth Org basketball, serves meals to needy families, tutors children at local elementary schools. NO one more qualified or deserving for this position, says Trump.

by Amy Howe 7/10/2018 1:10:02 AM
He's not exactly politically moderate though. Christ, this is going to be a fight. And the Democrats have ammo, far more than they did against Gorsuch (frozen trucker aside)

by Ned 7/10/2018 1:10:04 AM
This incredibly qualified nominee deserves swift confirmation, says Trump.

by Amy Howe 7/10/2018 1:10:26 AM
Picture from the East Room by Mark Walsh.

by Andrew Hamm 7/10/2018 1:10:30 AM
WROTE. Not Authored. WROTE

by KPOM 7/10/2018 1:10:30 AM
Kavanaugh about to speak.

by Amy Howe 7/10/2018 1:10:52 AM
Thank you, says BK. I have witnessed your appreciation for the vital role of the American judiciary. NO president has ever consulted more widely, talked to more people with more backgrounds to seek input about nomination.

by Amy Howe 7/10/2018 1:11:30 AM
BK praising AMK. Devoted his career to securing the blessings of liberty.

by Amy Howe 7/10/2018 1:12:05 AM
Deeply honored to fill AMK seat. (I wish they would let the family members sit down!)

by Amy Howe 7/10/2018 1:12:21 AM
BK says his parents are there. Says he is an only child.

by Amy Howe 7/10/2018 1:12:38 AM
Says mother taught history at two predominantly African-American high schools in DC. Taught him importance of equality.

by Amy Howe 7/10/2018 1:13:08 AM
Mother went to law school when BK was 10. Says she taught him, "use your common sense. What rings true is true. What rings false is false." She was one of first woman prosecutors, was the first Judge Kavanaugh. Dad went to law school at night while working full time, passed on work ethic, love for sports.

by Amy Howe 7/10/2018 1:13:57 AM
Model of Georgetown Prep, his high school, was "men for others." Tried to live out that creed.

by Amy Howe 7/10/2018 1:14:14 AM
Judicial philosophy: Interpret the law, not make it. Interpret laws and Constitution as written.

by Amy Howe 7/10/2018 1:14:46 AM
Teaches law school, hired by then-Dean Elena Kagan.

by Amy Howe 7/10/2018 1:15:09 AM
Proud that a majority of his law clerks have been women. Proud member of vibrant D.C. Catholic community. Introduces priest for whom he used to serve as altar boy. Introduces daughter Margaret -- loves sports and reading. Liza loves sports and talking. She laughs

by Amy Howe 7/10/2018 1:16:10 AM
Talking up law clerk hiring practices—now we're getting to the good stuff! (Says he's had people of diverse perspectives. Will BK hire counter-clerks?!)

by Ian Samuel 7/10/2018 1:16:31 AM
Someone has asked about the priest in the front row -- that's Msgr. Enzler who was just mentioned.

by Andrew Hamm 7/10/2018 1:16:40 AM
Says he tried to create bonds with daughters like his father did with him. Says girls on his basketball team call him Coach K (draws a laugh), they just won city championship. Says they also go to lots of games, including Women's Final Four.

by Amy Howe 7/10/2018 1:16:56 AM
Ashley is West Texan, graduated from public school and UT-Austin, she's a town manager in Chevy Chase. First date was September 10, 2001; they sprinted out of Bush White House together the next day.

by Amy Howe 7/10/2018 1:17:36 AM
Ashley was a source of strength in days that followed September 11, for Bush and rest of White House. Says he thanks God every day for his family.

by Amy Howe 7/10/2018 1:18:06 AM
Tomorrow I begin meeting with senators, says BK.

by Amy Howe 7/10/2018 1:18:19 AM
I will tell each senator that I revere the Constitution. I believe an independent judiciary is the crown jewel of our republic. If confirmed, will keep an open mind in every case, strive to preserve constitution and American rule of law.

by Amy Howe 7/10/2018 1:19:00 AM
Thank you Mr. President. Kavanaugh family group hug.

by Amy Howe 7/10/2018 1:19:11 AM
BK looks extremely happy.

by Amy Howe 7/10/2018 1:19:39 AM
He’s going out of his way to talk about how much he respects women.

by KPOM 7/10/2018 1:19:49 AM
And that is all. They walk out with Trump, now there is a lot of milling around.

by Amy Howe 7/10/2018 1:20:14 AM
Kennedy goes back-to-back with former clerks nominated to the Court. As does Georgetown Prep. Whether that's impressive or worrisome, it certainly is something.

by John 7/10/2018 1:20:18 AM
Everyone likes to point out that the two newest Justices (Gorsuch and now Kavanaugh) are both former clerks of Kennedy's, as if to say that they have Kennedy's stamp of approval. But at the same time, former clerks will always say that Justices don't screen out clerks based on ideology. Isn't perfectly possible that a Justice could hire a clerk they deeply disagree with for their legal skills and pray to g-d that clerk never comes up for nomination?

by Sammy! 7/10/2018 1:20:59 AM
I believe that is all we will get tonight. I am going to get to work on my post on the nomination, but hopefully Ian, Dan and Leah will stick around to talk amongst themselves and answer your questions. We'll be back again live blogging the hearings, though!

by Amy Howe 7/10/2018 1:21:13 AM
So, what were the Kennedy opinions in the year that Gorsuch and Kavanaugh clerked?

by NBC just announced it's Kavanaugh. 7/10/2018 1:22:23 AM
The bit about then-Dean Kagan hiring him surprised me most. I read that and thought 'this is what all the red-state Democratic Senators will reference in the approval speeches.' Kagan intentionally sought intelligent and respectable conservatives to diversify the Law School.

by Jonathan K 7/10/2018 1:23:45 AM
Another photo from the East Room by Mark Walsh.

by Andrew Hamm 7/10/2018 1:23:53 AM
This was live on my TV here in Australia. We're much more engaged with American stuff including judicial stuff than perhaps previously.

by Ne 7/10/2018 1:27:55 AM
We are going to collect statements about Kavanaugh's nomination. These can be sent to nominationstatements [at] gmail [dot] com.

by Andrew Hamm 7/10/2018 1:29:27 AM
We're going to shut down the live blog. Thanks for joining us! We'll have a post up about the nomination soon.

by Andrew Hamm 7/10/2018 1:31:53 AM

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On November 13, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Judge Jennifer Walker Elrod of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit and Judge Susan Carney of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit presided over the final round of the 2018 Ames Moot Court Competition at Harvard Law School.

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Cases argued	43
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Editor's Note :

Scribble

Live blog of nomination | July 9, 2018 (with First Mondays)

We live-blogged with First Mondays as President Donald Trump nominated Judge Brett Kavanaugh to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy on the Supreme Court.

Featured Posts

Challengers urge justices to dismiss census case after district court ruling (Updated) – Amy Howe

Reargument analysis: Justices seek a “middle position” in takings litigation case – Miriam Seifter

Argument analysis: Justices have strong views about removal of class actions – Ronald Mann

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Merits Case Pages and Archives

Recent Decisions

Current Relists

Conference of January 18, 2019

Major Cases

Recent Special Features

Live Blog Archives

Jan. 2019

Download our App in the Apple Store

First Mondays see all

Videos see all

Peabody Award

Sigma Delta Chi

National Press Club Award

Silver Gavel Award

American Gavel Award

Webby Award