As Trump weighs options, Pence meets with Supreme Court contenders

WASHINGTON – Vice President Mike Pence has met with some of the contenders for the Supreme Court vacancy created by Justice Anthony Kennedy's retirement, The Associated Press has learned. The meetings took place in recent days, a person familiar with the search process said.

Trump praises military for keeping US ‘safe, strong, proud’ Source: AP

President Donald Trump on Wednesday praised the U.S. military for keeping America "safe, strong, proud, mighty and free" and used the Independence Day holiday to thank them for being willing to put their lives on the line in defense of the nation. "Two hundred and 42 years ago on July 4, 1776, America's founders adopted the Declaration of independence and changed the course of human history," said Trump, addressing hundreds of military families attending a holiday picnic from a balcony overlooking the lawn.

As Trump weighs options, Pence meets with court contenders

Vice-President Mike Pence has met with some of the contenders for the Supreme Court vacancy created by Justice Anthony Kennedy's retirement, The Associated Press has learned. The meetings took place in recent days, according to a person familiar with the search process.

‘Our most fundamental values are under attack’: Democrats issue bleak July Fourth statement

While hailing the nation's founding ideal of equality for all, DNC chairman Tom Perez said in the statement, "we recognize that America's founding promise remains out of reach for too many families." Adding that "everywhere we look, our most fundamental values are under attack," Perez referred to problems surrounding low-paying jobs, health care, immigration, injustice to people of color and members or the LGBTQ community, a recent Supreme Court decision on public unions, and the retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy.

Government no longer pushing schools to consider race in admissions

The Trump administration said the government would no longer encourage schools to use race as a factor in the admissions process, rescinding Obama-era guidance meant to promote diversity among students. The shift announced Tuesday gives colleges the federal government's blessing to leave race out of admissions and enrollment decisions and underscores the contentious politics that for decades have surrounded affirmation action policies, which have repeatedly been challenged before the Supreme Court.

Amid Supreme Court fight, desperate forces on the Left declare open season on the truth

"Just to state this," wrote Neera Tanden, president of the Center for American Progress, "Justice Kennedy's son gave a billion dollar loan to Trump when no one would give him a dime, and Justice Kennedy has been ruling in favor of the Trump Administration position for 2 years as the Court decides 5-4 case after 5-4 case." This was crazy conspiracy theory completely ungrounded in facts.

President Trump Talks to Three More Candidates to Fill Justice Kennedy’s Supreme Court Seat

President Donald Trump spoke with three more potential Supreme Court candidates on Tuesday as a key senator privately aired concerns about one of the contenders. As Trump weighs his options, he has heard from Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who has expressed reservations about one top potential nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, according to a person familiar with the call but not authorized to publicly disclose details of it.

Government allowing colleges to leave race out of decisions Source: AP

The Trump administration said the government would no longer encourage schools to use race as a factor in the admissions process, rescinding Obama-era guidance meant to promote diversity among students. The shift announced Tuesday gives colleges the federal government's blessing to leave race out of admissions and enrollment decisions and underscores the contentious politics that for decades have surrounded affirmation action policies, which have repeatedly been challenged before the Supreme Court.

What’s a retired justice to do? Former justices show the way

For more than 30 years Justice Anthony Kennedy has lived by the Supreme Court's predictable calendar: hearing new cases beginning on the first Monday in October, arguments starting at 10 a.m. and near-weekly conferences with colleagues until the court adjourns in June. Soon, he'll have no fixed schedule.

Court nomination means Trump voters were right

Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, who is retiring, administers an oath of office to Neil Gorsuch - the first Supreme Court justice nominated by President Donald Trump. Along with a second high court nominee, Trump is moving at record pace to fill the federal appeals courts with young conservative judges .

The Latest: Trump promises ‘great’ pick for Supreme Court

President Donald Trump's list of candidates for the Supreme Court, posted on White Ho... . President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, July 2, 2018, in Washington.

Reviewing Justice Kennedy’s contributions to sentencing and…

The University of California Press Blog has this new posting titled "Justice Kennedy's Contributions to Sentencing and Corrections Reform: An Appreciation." The piece is authored by Margaret Colgate Love, and here are extended excerpts: In 2003, Justice Anthony Kennedy made a dramatic and surprising presentation to the American Bar Association's Annual Meeting in San Francisco in which he raised fundamental questions about the fairness and efficacy of criminal punishment in the United States.

NARAL Launches First SCOTUS Ad Campaign; Print and Online Ads To Run In Maine Wednesday

Today, NARAL Pro-Choice America announced it is launching its first ad campaign in the fight for the Supreme Court seat being vacated by Justice Anthony Kennedy. Full page print ads in the Portland Press Herald, Kennebec Journal/Morning Sentinel, Bangor Daily News, and Lewiston Sun Journal.

US to stop encouraging race as factor in school admissions

The Trump administration on Tuesday rescinded Obama-era guidance that encouraged schools to take a student's race into account to promote diversity in admissions. The shift suggests schools will have the federal government's blessing to leave race out of admissions and enrollment decisions, and it underscores the contentious politics that continue to surround affirmative action policies, which have repeatedly been challenged before the Supreme Court.

Sarah Sanders: Trump Wants Someone With ‘Tremendous Intellect’ for SCOTUS

President Donald Trump is focused on his list of potential Supreme Court justices and for now, he'll continue to stick with the people on it, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said Tuesday. "The main thing that the president is looking for are people who will fit the qualifications you would want in a Supreme Court justice," Sanders told Fox News' "Fox & Friends," adding that the president is looking for a candidate with "tremendous intellect, someone who will stick to upholding the Constitution and somebody who has great judicial temperament."