Kennedy, who has sat on the court for 30 years and will soon turn 81, has been mulling retirement according to some of his former clerks. His clerks gathered this weekend for a reunion with the Kennedy, a year ahead of schedule, spurring rumors Kennedy may step down as soon as Monday when the Court’s current session ends.
The Sacremento, Calif., native has been the Court’s most moderate voice for years and is often the deciding vote.
Kennedy's most famous decision was Obergefell v. Hodges, which swung the Court vote in legalizing gay marriage. Kennedy's decision was praised by gay marriage advocates for its sweeping opinion and eloquence, while others criticized the decisions for the many loopholes it left open, including how gay marriage fits within the legal realm with religious institutions.
Decisions expected by the court this week, one involving a Missouri church and it being denied state funds to build safe soft sources for a playground and possibly a decision on
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