Anthony Kennedy

Details

Birth

July 23, 1936 · Sacramento, California

Death

Living

Law school

harvard university

Prior experience

U.s. court of appeals judge

Biography

Anthony McLeod Kennedy (born July 23, 1936) is a retired American lawyer and jurist who served as an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court from 1988 to 2018. Born in Sacramento, California, Kennedy earned his bachelor's degree from Stanford University in 1958 and his law degree from Harvard Law School in 1961. He worked in private practice in San Francisco and Sacramento before being appointed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit by President Gerald Ford in 1975, where he served for 13 years. Kennedy was nominated to the Supreme Court by President Ronald Reagan in 1987, following the failed nominations of Robert Bork and Douglas Ginsburg, and was confirmed unanimously by the Senate in February 1988. Kennedy became known as the Court's decisive swing vote, often casting the deciding ballot in closely divided cases. His judicial philosophy emphasized individual liberty, dignity, and constitutional interpretation that evolved with changing social circumstances. Among his most significant majority opinions were *Lawrence v. Texas* (2003), which struck down sodomy laws; *Obergefell v. Hodges* (2015), which established a constitutional right to same-sex marriage; and *Citizens United v. FEC* (2010), which expanded corporate speech rights in campaign finance. Kennedy also authored important decisions on abortion rights, including *Planned Parenthood v. Casey* (1992), which upheld the central holding of *Roe v. Wade* while allowing greater state regulation. His legacy centers on his protection of individual rights and personal autonomy, particularly regarding LGBTQ+ rights and reproductive freedom. Kennedy announced his retirement in June 2018 and was succeeded by Brett Kavanaugh.

Notable opinions

• Obergefell v. Hodges
• United States v. Windsor
• Lawrence v. Texas