Trump choice to shift high court balance

The retirement of Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, a conservative who sided with liberals on many votes, gives President Trump the chance to shift the balance of the court further to the right for decades to come

Supreme Court judges have lifetime tenure. They give final ruling on issues such as gun laws, abortion and civil rights

Kennedy, 81, was “swing vote” on key issues, including expanding gay rights and upholding abortion rights

LIBERAL LEANING
Stephen Breyer, 79
Sonia Sotomayor, 64
Elena Kagan, 58 
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 85

CONSERVATIVE LEANING 
Neil Gorsuch, 50
Samuel Alito, 68 
Clarence Thomas, 70
John Roberts, 63 Chief Justice
 

TOP SUPREME COURT CONTENDERS
Brett Kavanaugh, 53 Appeals court judge for District of Columbia
Amy Coney Barrett, 46 Appeals court judge in Indiana
Thomas Hardiman, 52 Appeals court judge in Pennsylvania
Raymond Kethledge, 51 Appeals court judge in Michigan
Amul Thapar, 49 Appeals court judge in Kentucky

Source: U.S. Supreme Court Pictures: AP, Getty Images, University of Notre Dame, abovethelaw.com
© GRAPHIC NEWS