Retired Justice Kennedy says civic dialogue has reached 'a low point'
Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy retired in July, and was replaced by Justice Brett Kavanaugh, his former law clerk.
Retired Justice Anthony M. Kennedy says that Americans have “hit a low point in our civic dialogue.”
Kennedy spoke Friday at Stanford University in a question-and-answer session with law dean M. Elizabeth Magill, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Kennedy, a Stanford graduate, expressed concern about the political climate of anger and partisanship. “When we’ve hit a low point in our civic dialogue, which I think we have,” he said, it “should give energy to come upward.”
Kennedy said it’s our duty to use freedom of speech in a responsible and kind way, and “we’re not doing it.”
Kennedy didn’t specifically discuss the fight over the confirmation of his former law clerk, Brett Kavanaugh, who is now a justice, according to the Chronicle. He did say that senators are entitled to make political decisions about court nominees, “but they should remember that politics has an ethical underpinning.” He did not elaborate.
Kennedy expressed optimism about the court’s future. “I think in a very short time the court will show that it’s functioning. All the justices have a very great respect for each other,” he said.
Hat tip to How Appealing.
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