Justice Anthony Kennedy to retire from US Supreme Court

The following quote may be attributed to Alliance Defending Freedom President, CEO, and General Counsel Michael Farris regarding Justice Anthony Kennedy’s announcement Wednesday that he is retiring from the U.S. Supreme Court:

“Today we acknowledge the historic legacy Justice Anthony Kennedy leaves behind. As a man who both understood and defined our American cultural moment, Justice Kennedy’s opinions and legal thought process have garnered respect from people across the spectrum of judicial philosophies. That is no small feat.

“We respectfully disagree with those decisions where Justice Kennedy created ‘rights’ not found in or intended by the United States Constitution. He deeply disappointed many Americans with his constitutional jurisprudence favoring abortion and same-sex marriage. But we also praise Justice Kennedy’s insight and forceful celebration of First Amendment freedoms, his sensitivity to the danger of authoritarian government, and his refreshing desire to preserve and teach the necessity of freedom of speech to future generations.

“He has ruled to protect minority religious groups (Church of the Lukumi Babalu Aye), guarantee equal access for religious speakers in government forums (Rosenberger and Southworth), and protect private speech from official government censure (Masterpiece Cakeshop).

“Alliance Defending Freedom honors Justice Kennedy’s sterling legacy defending the First Amendment liberties of all Americans and ensuring that governments “must not be allowed to force persons to express a message contrary to their deepest convictions” (NIFLA). ADF looks forward to the president’s nomination of a person to replace Justice Kennedy on the Supreme Court who will uphold the First Amendment and the original public meaning of the Constitution.”

Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization that advocates for the right of people to freely live out their faith.