The New York Times editorial board on Sunday wrote an impassioned plea for Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy to “please stay” on the bench in order to preserve the ideological balance of the court.
“We realize this isn’t an entirely fair request,” the newspaper’s editorial board wrote of the swing justice in an opinion piece titled, “Please Stay, Justice Kennedy. America Needs You.”
“Every 81-year-old, especially those who have devoted their lives to the service of their country, should have the freedom to retire without worrying that the nation’s future may hang in the balance. But this is the world we live in,” they added.
The New York Times’ editorial board implored Kennedy, whose rumored plans for retirement have buoyed Republicans facing tough re-election bids in 2018, to consider the importance of safeguarding his judicial legacy and that of the Supreme Court.
“In short, you’re as close to a centrist as anyone on the current court, and so you, more than anyone, are in a position to protect its good standing,” the New York Times continued.
“The American people are desperate for someone who is not polarizing, and your continued service would be an encouraging sign to them that the court can still operate outside politics,” the board wrote. “If you leave, the dam breaks.”
Kennedy was nominated by former President Ronald Reagan and confirmed to the Supreme Court in 1988.
Despite speculation he will step down, Kennedy has hired law clerks for the 2018-2019 term, which starts in October.
