WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Steve Chabot (R-Westwood), senior Member of the House Judiciary Committee, released the following statement with regards to the retirement of Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy:

“Throughout his thirty years on the U.S. Supreme Court, Justice Anthony Kennedy has been a serious, principled and dedicated jurist. While I did not always agree with his opinions, he has been an important voice on the Court for free speech, religious liberties and limited government. On a personal note, he also wrote the majority opinion in Gonzales v. Carhart, which upheld the constitutionality of the federal partial-birth abortion ban that I authored. And so, thank you, Justice Kennedy, for your distinguished service to the Supreme Court and to our nation.

“As President Trump considers potential nominees to replace Justice Kennedy, it is critically important that he emphasize judges who believe the judiciary’s role is to follow the original meaning of the Constitution, and interpret laws, not make them. I really can’t stress enough how important this decision is for the future of our country, as it will likely shape the Supreme Court for a generation.”

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