Gale Encyclopedia of American Law Volume 6 P16 fully illuminates today's leading cases, major statutes, legal terms and concepts, notable persons involved with the law, important documents and more. Legal issues are fully discussed in easy-to-understand language, including such high-profile topics as the Americans with Disabilities Act, capital punishment, domestic violence, gay and lesbian rights, physician-assisted suicide and thousands more. | 138 KENNEDY ANTHONY MCLEOD Anthony M. Kennedy. ROBIN REID COLLECTION OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES legitimate means of interpretation. Kennedy testified that original intent was only a starting point in interpreting the Constitution. In his Senate testimony Kennedy stated his commitment to the principle of stare decisis. This principle refers to the respect for legal precedent created by prior cases and the need to maintain precedent even if the current judges do not agree with the original ruling. Kennedy was confirmed in February 1988 with many liberal members of Congress feeling that he was too conservative and some conservatives believing he was moderate a compromise candidate who could survive the confirmation process. Since taking office as associate justice Kennedy has proved to be both conservative and moderate depending on the case. He has usually sided with the conservative members of the Court but he has gained attention by departing from them in two important cases. In Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey 505 . 833 112 S. Ct. 2791 120 L. Ed. 2d 674 1992 watchers had expected the Court to overrule explicitly roe v. wade 410 . 113 93 S. Ct. 705 35 L. Ed. 2d 147 the 1973 decision that defined the right to choose abortion as a fundamental constitutional right. Kennedy joined with Justices Sandra Day O Connor and david h. souter in an opinion that defended the reasoning of Roe and the line of cases that followed it. in 1996 Kennedy wrote a landmark and controversial decision concerning gay rights. in ROMERv. EVANS . 620 116 S. Ct. 1620 134 L. Ed. 2d 855 Kennedy declared unconstitutional an amendment to the Colorado state constitution West s . Const. Art. 2 30b that prohibited state and local governments from enacting any law regulation or ANTHONY MCLEOD KENNEDY 1936- 2008 Wrote majority opinion in Boumediene v. Bush giving habeas corpus rights to Guantanamo Bay prisoners - 2007 Wrote majority opinion in .
