***Live Updates*** Trump Nominates Brett Kavanaugh to SCOTUS

President Donald Trump will announce his second Supreme Court pick tonight, and left-wing activists and lawmakers were quick to oppose Trump’s pick even before Trump’s formal White House announcement on Tuesday evening.

Amy Coney Barrett, Brett Kavanaugh, Raymond Kethledge, and Thomas Hardiman were reportedly the four finalists. Pro-abortion activists announced that they will protest Trump’s choice outside the Supreme Court later this evening.

Watch Trump’s announcement live here. Watch the left-wing protests outside the Supreme Court below:

Stay tuned to Breitbart News throughout the evening for live updates. All times eastern.

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12:17 AM: Can’t even make this stuff up:

12:15 AM:

https://twitter.com/kevinroose/status/1016525450338816000

12:10 AM: Left-wing pundits mad at Yale Law Professor Amar:

12:05 AM:

11:57 PM: Kavanaugh to meet with McConnell, Pence on Tuesday:

11:30 PM: The Resistance:

11:15 PM: Breitbart’s Amanda House fearlessly reporting on the loony left outside the Supreme Court:

https://twitter.com/amandaleehouse/status/1016519055434506241?s=21

https://twitter.com/amandaleehouse/status/1016518250375581698?s=21

https://twitter.com/amandaleehouse/status/1016513244503117824?s=21

11:10 PM: From Breitbart’s Michelle Moons at the White House:

“It has been very difficult on principle and a matter of policy to go against this man who spent 12 years on the DC circuit. It’s just pure poli- you have to go against him on pure politics certainly not on principles certainly not on policy.” — Kellyanne Conway to reporters in the East Room after President Trump’s event announcing Kavanaugh as his SCOTUS nominee.

11:09 PM: Never Trump losers gonna keep Never Trumping: David French attacks Trump pick, Glenn Beck employee says Trump broke campaign promise:

11:05 PM:

11:00 PM: Warren all-in against Kavanaugh:

10:55 PM: Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA):

10:53: Al Sharpton:

10:50 PM: Sens. McCain and Murkowski:

10:45 PM:

10:40 PM: The Resistance:

10:37 PM:  Pelosi: Kavanaugh pick “clear and disrespectful assault on the fundamental rights of women.”

10: 30 PM: Amnesty advocates oppose:

10:23 PM:

10:21 PM: Gun-control advocates oppose Kavanaugh pick:

10:20 PM: Booker thinks Kavanaugh pick “self-serving.”

10:11 PM:

10:10 PM: NARAL protests:

10:09 PM: Women’s March releases statement condemning “XX.”

10:07 PM: FORMER CLERKS FOR JUDGE KAVANAUGH:
John Bash, Former Clerk from 2006-2007 and Former Clerk to Justice Scalia:
The President has nominated a judge who is as humble as he is brilliant. Judge Kavanaugh exemplifies the values that Americans want in a Justice of the Supreme Court: personal integrity, intellectual rigor, fairness, open-mindedness, and fundamental decency.
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Zina Bash, Former Clerk from 2007-2008 and Former Special Assistant to the President and Clerk to Justice Alito:
Judge Kavanaugh was my first boss out of law school, and—11 years later—he is still the first person I turn to for career advice. His role model was his mother: the original Judge Kavanaugh. And he in turn serves as an enthusiastic role model to so many women who have been fortunate enough to have clerked for him or been his students. I am honored to call Judge Kavanaugh a mentor and a friend.
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Marguerite Colson, Former Clerk from 2015-2016:
Brett Kavanaugh loves being a judge. But even more than being a judge, he loves being a father, friend, and mentor. He takes responsibility for each and every one of his clerks (no matter their ideological stripe), striving for their personal and professional success as if it were his own. No matter how silly my question or small my problem, Judge Kavanaugh always makes time for me. He makes time for all of us.
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Caroline Edsall Littleton, Former Clerk from 2011-2012:
At the end of my clerkship, my parents sent a short note to Judge Kavanaugh, thanking him for having been such a wonderful boss and mentor to me. Their note very easily could have gone without response, but instead Judge Kavanaugh took the time to write a heartfelt note in return, thanking them for how they raised me. To this day (nearly six years later), my parents still cherish that note. This is the kind of person that Judge Kavanaugh is—an extraordinarily thoughtful man, who goes out of his way to be kind.
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Gillian Grossman, Former Clerk from 2014-2015:
My clerkship with Judge Kavanaugh was as much a lesson in graciousness, humility, and compassion as it was in the law. Judge Kavanaugh’s herculean work ethic and extraordinary intellect are matched only by his unimpeachable integrity and his love for his country.
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Eric Hansford, Former Clerk from 2011-2012:
Judge Kavanaugh is not only a wonderful judge, but also a caring boss who takes pride in mentoring his clerks—from the big life decisions to the tiny tips on looking like a lawyer. Early in my clerkship, the Judge called me into his office and said he noticed that my collar was curling up in front. He pulled down his tie, took the collar stays out his own shirt, and handed them to me. The next morning, I came in to find a pile of collar stays on my chair. I still use those collar stays.
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Zac Hudson, Former Clerk from 2009-2010:
Judge Kavanaugh is a brilliant person who has a deep and nuanced understanding of the law. He judges each case fairly and independently based on an assessment of the facts and arguments with which he is presented. Policy and politics do not alter his approach to judging. This country would be fortunate to have Brett Kavanaugh as a Supreme Court Justice.
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Saritha Komatireddy, Former Clerk from 2009-2010:
One day early in my clerkship with Judge Kavanaugh, I stayed in the office late into the evening, working with the Judge on the 100th draft of an opinion (literally), while we both split a Domino’s pizza. I considered it a special privilege to train under a man who had such fundamental respect for the law and a complete commitment to getting it right.
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Travis Lenkner, Former Clerk from 2007-2008 and Managing Partner of Keller Lenkner LLC:
Judge Kavanaugh is a fair, independent judge for whom fidelity to the Constitution is the guiding light. He has been an incredible mentor to me and to all of his law clerks and students. He is a kind, genuine, down-to-earth person and a devoted husband and father. I know without a doubt that he will be a wonderful Supreme Court Justice.
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Roman Martinez, Former Clerk from 2008-2009 and Partner at Latham & Watkins LLP:
Ten years ago, I was honored to serve as law clerk to Judge Kavanaugh at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. I saw firsthand his reverence for the Constitution, his integrity, his fairness, and his overriding commitment to do justice in every case, big or small. Since my clerkship, I have gotten to know Judge Kavanaugh as a mentor and friend. I could not be happier that President Trump has chosen to nominate him to serve as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. I am confident that Judge Kavanaugh will be a truly great Justice.
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Jennifer Mascott, Former Clerk from 2006-2007 and Assistant Professor of Law at the Antonin Scalia Law School:
Judge Kavanaugh has one of the sharpest legal minds in the country. He has been a thought leader on the D.C. Circuit and has served consistently as an independent, fair-minded judge. He is very down-to-earth and kind and I am grateful for his willingness to serve as a mentor to his clerks.
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Sarah Pitlyk, Former Clerk from 2010-2011:
Judge Kavanaugh is an exemplary judge: brilliant, principled, and faithful to the text. He is also a gifted writer who meticulously crafts every opinion. His excellence and dedication have earned him the admiration of colleagues across the political spectrum. It is hard to imagine anyone better suited to serve on the Supreme Court.
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Richard Re, Former Clerk from 2008-2009, Former Clerk to Justice Kennedy, and AssistantProfessor of Law at the UCLA School of Law:
Judge Kavanaugh is a master of the legal craft. His opinions are scholarly, influential, and unyieldingly reasoned. He has already left an important mark on the law, and, if confirmed, he would continue to be a fair-minded voice on the bench.
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Hagan Scotten, Former Clerk from 2010-2011:
Judge Kavanaugh is a great judge who will make a great Justice. I learned a ton from Judge Kavanaugh even before I clerked for him, when I took a class he taught at my law school. He taught with the knowledge and clarity of the best professors. And his dedication to his students was legendary. When he wasn’t teaching, he made just about every minute he had on campus available to meet with his students one on one. He held office hours essentially five days a week—often early in the morning and late into the night—to help each of his students to talk through issues raised in class and give career advice.
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Indraneel Sur, Former Clerk from 2006-2007:
Since his first day at the D.C. Circuit, Judge Kavanaugh has stood ready to invest whatever amount of energy is necessary to get the reasoning and the result right in every case. I was exceptionally privileged to observe him closely during his first year on that court, and remain profoundly impressed by the care he applied at every stage of the appellate process. Of course, he would bring that same tireless dedication to the rule of law to the Supreme Court were he confirmed. I am perpetually grateful for all I have learned from him and delighted to congratulate him and his family on this proud day.
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Rebecca Taibleson, Former Clerk from 2010-2011:
Judge Kavanaugh is a brilliant judge, and he has the disposition to match. He is even-handed, kind, and honest with everyone—colleagues, litigants, and staff alike. I clerked for Justice Scalia after clerking for Judge Kavanaugh. And like Justice Scalia, Judge Kavanaugh will be especially influential on the Supreme Court based on his compelling personality and persuasive approach to the law.
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Justin Walker, Former Clerk from 2010-2011 and Assistant Professor of Law at the University of Louisville:
The last time I ran in a 10K with Judge Kavanaugh, I was 30 and he was 47, and he smoked me! His time was 7:56 per mile. He’s run two Boston marathons—which is two more than I’ve run.
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Katie Wellington, Former Clerk from 2014-2015:
The year I clerked for Judge Kavanaugh, he had hired four female law clerks—a first for any Judge on the D.C. Circuit. Today, he is a mentor to each of us as we pursue careers in public service, private practice, and academia. Judge Kavanaugh’s deep commitment to his profession, his community, his church, and his family serves as an inspiration not only for his clerks, but also for the next generation of lawyers.
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Porter Wilkinson, Former Clerk from 2007-2008:
The Judge’s love of the law is matched by his enthusiasm for women’s lacrosse. His two daughters play, and his cousin Megan Ward—one of the nation’s top goaltenders—led the Carolina Tarheels to two NCAA National Championships. Every spring, the Judge and I scrutinize recruiting reports, post-game analyses, and tournament brackets. On Memorial Day weekend, if we aren’t at the NCAA finals, we’ll be watching on TV and emailing in real time.
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Candice Wong, Former Clerk from 2008-2009:
Judge Kavanaugh taught us, his clerks, to be meticulous; he showed us that by thinking more rigorously and working more ferociously than any of us. But he also showed us the importance of hearing out all sides of an issue, being gracious to all parties, and making time for family and friends (and maybe some marathon training) outside of work. The judge celebrates our every success and milestone as his own. When my son was born, we got a copy of “Good Night Gorilla” with a thoughtful note from the Judge the next day.

10:06 PM:

10:05 PM: Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL):

10:03 PM:

10:01 PM:

9:58 PM: The deranged and loony left out in full force:

9:56 PM:

9:55: Liberal Yale Law Professor Akhil Reed Amar, author of The Bill of Rights: Creation and Reconstruction, praises Kavanaugh pick in New York Times op-ed:

In 2016, I strongly supported Hillary Clinton for president as well as President Barack Obama’s nominee for the Supreme Court, Judge Merrick Garland. But today, with the exception of the current justices and Judge Garland, it is hard to name anyone with judicial credentials as strong as those of Judge Kavanaugh.

9:50: Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), who will be one of the most important votes, issues statement:

9:45: Dem. Sens. Manchin, Brown not opposing Kavanaugh right out of the gate like so many of their colleagues:

Sherrod Brown:

9:42 PM: White House expecting Kavanaugh to be confirmed by Oct. 1:

9:40 PM:

9:38 PM: Dem Senators painting Kavanaugh as “extreme,” already vowing to oppose:

:35 PM: Mike Lee, George W. Bush:

 

 

9:30 PM: The left will be going over Kavanaugh’s Minnesota Law Review article.

 

9:25 PM: Schumer already vowing to oppose Kavanaugh “with everything I have.”

— Jim Dean from Democracy for America claims Kavanaugh pick will “directly lead to the deaths of countless women.”

9:21 PM: Kavanaugh says he will always strive to “preserve the Constitution of the United States and the American rule of law.”

9:20 PM: Reactions from the right:

–Leonard Leo, outside adviser to President Trump on Supreme Court confirmations: “Brett Kavanaugh is among the most distinguished and respected judges in the country, with nearly 300 opinions that clearly demonstrate fairness and a commitment to interpreting the Constitution as it’s written, and enforcing the limits on government power contained in the Constitution.”

–Gayle Trotter, attorney and spokesperson for Judicial Crisis Network: “When the Senate confirms Judge Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court the American people will have another great justice, as he has already shown to be an independent, fair-minded judge who will honor the Constitution and the rule of law. Once again, President Trump has shown how seriously he takes his responsibility to put the best judges on America’s courts.”

–Ken Blackwell, former senior domestic policy adviser to the Trump/Pence Transition: “President Trump has made another superb selection for the Supreme Court. Judge Kavanaugh is an exceptionally qualified, fair and independent judge whose record demonstrates he will honor the Constitution and fairly apply the law. As such he/she is in the mold of Neil Gorsuch, and we look forward to his/her serving on the court for many years as another great justice.”

–Jenny Beth Martin, chairman of Tea Party Patriots Citizens Fund: “Tea Party Patriots Action and our network of supporters and grassroots activists across the country thank President Donald Trump for nominating Brett Kavanaugh to be our next Supreme Court Justice. President Trump has once again fulfilled his promise to nominate a fair and independent Supreme Court Justice who will honor the Constitution and the rule of law. Judge Kavanaugh has a stellar record of as an originalist, and has proven to be a strong defender of the Second Amendment and freedom of speech and religion. Our network of grassroots activists will work very hard to ensure the Senate quickly moves to confirm Judge Kavanaugh.”

–Penny Nance, president and CEO, Concerned Women for America: “Judge Brett Kavanaugh is abundantly qualified to sit on the bench of the United States Supreme Court. He is among the best and brightest jurists on the appellate courts with a reputation of being fair and impartial in his decisions. Judge Kavanaugh is known as a judge who respects the Constitution as written, refusing to legislate from the bench. This is what we need at this time on the U.S. Supreme Court. Concerned Women for America is ready to stand up for Judge Kavanaugh and against the political attacks of the left which have little to do with the candidate’s record. This is not just about us; this is about our children and their children. This is about the future of this nation for generations to come, and we plan on giving everything we have in order to leave them a Supreme Court that will protect their liberties and uphold our Constitution.”

–Susan B Anthony List in for Kavanaugh: “President Trump has made another outstanding choice in nominating Judge Brett Kavanaugh to replace Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, keeping his promise to nominate only originalist judges to the Court. Judge Kavanaugh is an experienced, principled jurist with a strong record of protecting life and constitutional rights, as evidenced by his opinions in Garza v. Hargan and Priests for Life v. HHS.

“SBA List is mobilizing the pro-life grassroots nationwide and in key Senate battleground states to urge the Senate to swiftly confirm Judge Kavanaugh. Vulnerable senators up for re-election this year have a choice: stand with the President and their constituents and confirm a Supreme Court justice who will respect and uphold the Constitution, or cave to pressure from the extreme abortion lobby. If every self-avowed pro-life senator votes the right way, Judge Kavanaugh will be confirmed easily.”

–FreedomWorks President Adam Brandom: “Judge Kavanaugh is a fantastic choice to succeed former Justice Kennedy on the Supreme Court. Kavanaugh has proven to be a staunch conservative who has relied on originalism and textualism while serving on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. We are confident he would strengthen the conservative wing of the Court and preserve the Constitution, as the framers intended.”

Family Research Council’s Tony Perkins: “For a second time, President Trump has followed through on his promise to select a nominee from the list he presented during the campaign. President Trump promised a constitutionalist – someone who will call balls and strikes according to the Constitution. We trust the president that Judge Kavanaugh will fit this mold as a justice. Judge Kavanaugh has a long and praiseworthy history of judging as an originalist, and we look forward to having a justice with his philosophical approach on the Court.

“From the day Justice Kennedy retired, the Left has sought to make this vacancy all about abortion – even though many other significant issues are at stake including religious freedom and free speech. Under the Obama administration, we saw a growing assault on religious freedom and the courts became a battleground for secularists seeking to remove faith from the public square. Judge Kavanaugh resisted this trend in at least two instances — an HHS contraceptive mandate case and in an opinion supporting inauguration prayers.

“We are committed to working with President Trump and senators to help move the grassroots to gain the confirmation of Judge Kavanaugh.”

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9:10 PM: Kavanaugh thanks President Trump and says he has witnessed Trump’s appreciation for the vital role of the American judiciary. He says no president has spoken to more people than Trump to seek input about picking a SCOTUS nominee. Kavanaugh says Justice Kennedy devoted his career to “securing liberty” and says he is deeply honored to be nominated to fill his seat. Kavanaugh mentions that his mother taught at two predominantly African-American high schools and was a trailblazer by going to law school and becoming a prosecutor.

 

9:07 PM: Trump formally announces Kavanaugh as his SCOTUS pick. Trump praises Kavanaugh, says he has “impeccable credentials” and a proven commitment to “equal justice under the law.” Trump says he is considered a “judge’s judge” in legal circles, calls him a “brilliant jurist” with a “clear writing style” and one of the best legal minds. He points out that Kavanaugh excelled as a clerk for Justice Anthony Kennedy.

9:02 PM: Breitbart’s Michelle Moons at the White House:

— President thanks Justice Kennedy for lifetime of service. His remarks met with applause from the packed White House East Room crowd.

9:01 PM: Interesting:

9:00 PM: CNN’s Jeffrey Toobin says nobody will be able to say that Kavanaugh is “incompetent.”

8:55 PM: Trump will reportedly nominate Brett Kavanaugh:

8:39: Trump Tower protests:

8:27 PM:

8:15 PM:

8:05 PM:

7:50 PM:

7:45 PM:

7:42 PM:

7:40 PM: Left-wing activists and lawmakers already in full opposition even before Trump unveils nominee: