WASHINGTON D.C. - Ohio lawmakers are reacting to the announcement that Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy is retiring at the end of July.
Rep. Bob Latta thanked Justice Kennedy for his service and said he looks forward to the process of nominating his replacement.
“Justice Kennedy has served with honor and distinction for three decades on our nation’s highest court,” said Latta. “I thank him for his years of service and wish him the best in his upcoming retirement. As we look towards the next justice, I encourage President Trump to nominate an individual with a history of upholding the Constitution and believes in interpreting the law, not making the law.”
Sen. Rob Portman echoed Latta's sentiments, calling for Congress and the President to work together to put the most qualified person onto the Supreme Court.
“I’m grateful for Justice Kennedy’s many years of service on the Supreme Court and wish him well in his retirement," Portman said in a statement. "I look forward to learning who President Trump plans to nominate and thoroughly assessing his or her qualifications for this important role. The job of a Supreme Court justice is to fairly and impartially apply the law and to protect the rights guaranteed by the Constitution, not to advance public policy goals by legislating from the bench. The president and Congress must now work together to do the important work of putting a highly qualified person in place who understands this role.”