Today in Supreme Court History: July 23, 1936

7/23/1936: Justice Anthony Kennedy's birthday.

Justice Anthony Kennedy

 

Comments

[Dan Schiavetta]

In re Roche, 448 U.S. 1312 (decided July 23, 1980): Brennan on First Amendment grounds continues stay of subpoena in disciplinary proceeding against state judge requiring news reporter to identify which source on list of witnesses provided which information even though reporter during deposition had already given all the information in substance and identified all sources as being somewhere on the list; Brennan believed cert would be granted but there is no further record of this case

In re Discipline of Quinn, 567 U.S. 955 (decided July 23, 2012): order suspending Brian S. Quinn from practicing before the Court; Quinn later consented to be stricken from the rolls; Pennsylvania Supreme Court disciplinary decision against him recounts drug convictions and related malpractices; he became advocate for overcoming addiction (and does presentations on the topic for the same Continuing Legal Education outfit I do presentations for)

[JoeFromtheBronx]

Justice Kennedy was like “old #3” Harry Blackmun was a third choice. The reasons why it took three tries were somewhat different & Kennedy was different from Blackmun in various respects.

Kennedy received criticism from both sides in various respects. I was more sympathetic about him generally than some on the liberal side. For instance, his tendency to use vague and open-ended principles in his opinions was not so different than other justices. They just did it differently.

We have to judge his usage on the merits. For instance, I have defended his language in the gay and lesbian cases.

Ah. The not so mighty Quinn.

[Dan Schiavetta]

The deficit was about 5000 sirignanos until he gave up his (gambling? drug?) addiction.