Kavanaugh clerked for Kennedy.
Kavanaugh has said that he wouldn't overturn Roe v Wade.
Many are speculating the Kennedy made a deal to retire in exchange for naming his replacement from Trump's list.
SCOTUS remains 4/2/3 (L-to-R), it seems. Not the worst thing ever, but not the big win the Right was hoping for.
Maybe next it will be Breyer and Thomas retiring together, with Breyer getting the same deal, so that, after 4 Trump appointments, the Court will still only have gone from 4/2/3 to 3/3/3.
(Ginsberg will stay on the Court, even if she is hooked to machines keeping her alive. She will outlast Trump's 2 terms.)
K said he would respect 'precedent'.
Liberals talk about RvW as precedent.
Not the worst thing ever, but not the big win the Right was hoping for.
My gut says liberal Democrats have nothing to worry about.
There will be no bold, sweeping rulings. Just the same middle of the road compromises.