>> MR. PRESIDENT, THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT HONOR OF APPOINTING ME
TO SERVE AS A JUSTICE OF THE
SUPREME COURT.
SUPREME COURT. I’VE SEEN FIRSTHAND YOUR DEEP
APPRECIATION FOR THE VITAL ROLE
OF THE AMERICAN JUDICIARY.
I AM GRATEFUL FOR YOUR
STEADFAST, UNWAVERING SUPPORT
THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS.
AND I’M GRATEFUL TO YOU AND MRS.
TRUMP FOR THE EXCEPTIONAL,
OVERWHELMING COURTESY YOU HAVE
EXTENDED TO MY FAMILY AND ME.
MR. PRESIDENT, THANK YOU FOR
EVERYTHING.
EVERYTHING. [ APPLAUSE ]
I AM HONORED TO SERVE ON A
SUPREME COURT HEADED BY CHIEF
JUSTICE JOHN ROBERTS.
CHIEF JUSTICE ROBERTS IS A
PRINCIPLED, INDEPENDENT AND
INSPIRING LEADER FOR THE
AMERICAN JUDICIARY.
AMERICAN JUDICIARY. AS A COUNTRY, WE ARE FORTUNATE
TO HAVE JOHN ROBERTS AS CHIEF
JUSTICE OF THE UNITED STATES.
I’M HONORED TO SERVE ALONGSIDE
ALL OF MY NEW COLLEAGUES, EACH
OF WHOM I KNOW, AND EACH OF WHOM
I GREATLY ADMIRE AND DEEPLY
RESPECT.
RESPECT. ALL NINE OF US REVERE THE
CONSTITUTION.
CONSTITUTION. ARTICLE 3 OF THE CONSTITUTION
PROVIDES THAT THE JUDICIAL POWER
SHALL BE VESTED IN ONE SUPREME
COURT.
COURT. THE SUPREME COURT IS AN
INSTITUTION OF LAW.
IT IS NOT A PARTISAN OR
POLITICAL INSTITUTION.
POLITICAL INSTITUTION. THE JUSTICES DO NOT SIT ON
OPPOSITE SIDES OF AN AISLE.
WE DO NOT CAUCUS IN SEPARATE
ROOMS.
ROOMS. THE SUPREME COURT IS A TEAM OF
NINE, AND I WILL ALWAYS BE A
TEAM PLAYER ON THE TEAM OF NINE.
[ APPLAUSE ]
AS A NEW JUSTICE ON THE SUPREME
COURT, I UNDERSTAND THE
RESPONSIBILITY THAT I BEAR.
SOME 30 YEARS AGO, STANDING HERE
IN THE EAST ROOM WITH PRESIDENT
REAGAN, ANTHONY KENNEDY TOOK THE
OATH TO BE A NEW JUSTICE OF THE
SUPREME COURT.
SUPREME COURT. JUSTICE KENNEDY BECAME ONE OF
THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL JUSTICES
IN AMERICAN HISTORY.
I SERVED AS JUSTICE KENNEDY’S
LAW CLERK IN 1993.
TO ME, JUSTICE KENNEDY IS A
MENTOR, A FRIEND AND A HERO.
ON THE SUPREME COURT, HE WAS A
MODEL OF CIVILITY AND
COLLEGIALITY.
COLLEGIALITY. HE FIERCELY DEFENDED THE
INDEPENDENCE OF THE JUDICIARY
AND ZEALOUSLY GUARDED THE
INDIVIDUAL LIBERTIES SECURED BY
THE CONSTITUTION.
THE CONSTITUTION. JUSTICE KENNEDY ESTABLISHED A
LEGACY OF LIBERTY FOR OURSELVES
AND OUR POSTERITY.
I WILL ALWAYS BE HUMBLED AND
PROUD TO SIT IN JUSTICE
KENNEDY’S SEAT ON THE SUPREME
COURT.
COURT. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]
I THANK THE MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE.
SENATE MAJORITY LEADER MITCH
McCONNELL, FOR HIS LEADERSHIP
AND STEADY RESOLVE.
I THANK JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
CHAIRMAN CHUCK GRASSLEY FOR HIS
WISDOM AND FAIRNESS.
AND I GIVE SPECIAL GRATITUDE TO
SENATORS ROB PORTMAN, SUSAN
COLLINS, JOE MANCHIN, JON KYL
AND LINDSEY GRAHAM.
THEY ARE A CREDIT TO THE COUNTRY
AND THE SENATE.
I’LL BE FOREVER GRATEFUL TO EACH
THEMP AND
THEMP AND OF THEM AND TO ALL THE SENATORS
WHO CAREFULLY CONSIDERED MY
NOMINATION.
NOMINATION. PRESIDING OVER THE FINAL VOTE IN
THE SENATE SATURDAY WAS VICE
PRESIDENT PENCE.
PRESIDENT PENCE. I’M GRATEFUL TO THE VICE
PRESIDENT FOR HIS SOUND ADVICE
AND FAITHFUL SUPPORT.
I THANK COUNSEL TO THE PRESIDENT
DON McGAHN WHO WAS A WARRIOR FOR
FAIRNESS AND PERFORMED HIS
CRITICAL DUTIES IN THE FINEST
TRADITIONS OF OUR CONSTITUTION.
[ APPLAUSE ]
I THANK ALL THE OUTSTANDING PEOPLE IN THE WHITE HOUSE, THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND THE
SENATE WHO WORKED DAY AND NIGHT
ON THIS NOMINATION.
ONE OF THE FEDERAL JUDGE’S MOST
IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITIES IS TO
HIRE FOUR NEW LAW CLERKS EACH
YEAR.
YEAR. THE LAW CLERKS OF RECENT LAW
SCHOOL GRADUATES AND WORK IN THE
JUDGE’S CHAMBERS FOR ONE YEAR.
THEY ARE AMONG THE BEST AND
BRIGHTEST YOUNG LAWYERS IN
AMERICA, AND THEY HAVE BECOME
THE FUTURE LEADERS OF THE LEGAL
PROFESSION.
PROFESSION. I THANK MY FORMER LAW CLERKS WHO
DEVOTED SO MUCH TIME AND ENERGY
TO SUPPORT ME DURING THE
CONFIRMATION PROCESS.
CONFIRMATION PROCESS. [ APPLAUSE ]
INSPIRED BY MY MOM WHO WAS A
TRAILBLAZER FOR WOMEN IN LAW,
I’VE WORKED HARD THROUGHOUT MY
CAREER TO PROMOTE THE
ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN.
WOMEN STILL FACE MANY BARRIERS
IN THE AMERICAN WORKPLACE, AND
ALL OF US HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY
TO ADDRESS THAT PROBLEM.
DURING MY 12 YEARS ON THE D.C.
CIRCUIT, A MAJORITY OF MY LAW
CLERKS WERE WOMEN.
AND ALMOST ALL OF THEM WENT ON
TO CLERK AT THE SUPREME COURT.
A CLERKSHIP ON THE SUPREME COURT
IS ONE OF THE MOST COVETED
ACHIEVEMENTS AND CREDENTIALS IN
AMERICAN LAW.
AMERICAN LAW. I’M PROUD THAT ALL FOUR OF MY
NEWLY HIRED LAW CLERKS AT THE
SUPREME COURT ARE WOMEN.
A FIRST IN THE HISTORY OF THE
SUPREME COURT.
SUPREME COURT. [ APPLAUSE ]
TONIGHT I THANK ALL MY FRIENDS.
SO MANY AMAZING AND FEARLESS
FRIENDS FROM MY HIGH SCHOOL
DAYS, COLLEGE, LAW SCHOOL,
CLERKING, THE BUSH WHITE HOUSE,
INCLUDING PRESIDENT GEORGE W.
BUSH.
BUSH. [ APPLAUSE ]
FROM THE JUDICIARY TEACHING,
COACHING, PLAYING SPORTS, THE
VIBRANT, LOYAL AND TIGHT-KNIT
CATHOLIC COMMUNITY HERE IN THE
D.C. AREA AND SO MANY OTHERS.
ASHLEY AND I ARE GRATEFUL FOR
THEIR PRAYERS AND FOR THE
PRAYERS FROM THE THOUSANDS AND
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WE HAVE
HEARD FROM THROUGHOUT AMERICA.
WHEN I GIVE ADVICE TO YOUNG
PEOPLE OR SPEAK TO STUDENTS, I
TELL THEM, CHERISH YOUR FRIENDS,
LOOK OUT FOR YOUR FRIENDS, LIFT
UP YOUR FRIENDS, LOVE YOUR
FRIENDS.
FRIENDS. I LOVE ALL MY FRIENDS.
[ APPLAUSE ]
I THANK MY FAMILY, MY MOM MARTHA AND MY DAD ED ARE HERE.
I’M THEIR ONLY CHILD.
MY MOM WAS ONE OF MARYLAND’S
EARLIEST WOMEN PROSECUTORS AND
TRIAL JUDGES.
TRIAL JUDGES. MY DAD TAUGHT ME HIS WORK ETHIC
AND LOVE OF SPORTS.
THEY’VE GIVEN ME A LIFETIME OF
LOVE, AND I’M FOREVER GRATEFUL
TO THEM.
TO THEM. [ APPLAUSE ]
MY DAUGHTERS MARGARET AND LIZA ARE SMART, STRONG, AWESOME
GIRLS.
GIRLS. THEY ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF FALL
LACROSSE, LOOKING FORWARD TO THE
UPCOMING BASKETBALL SEASON.
I THANK THEIR TEACHERS FOR
GIVING THEM THE DAY OFF TOMORROW
SO THAT THEY CAN COME WATCH TWO
CASES BEING ARGUED AT THE
SUPREME COURT.
SUPREME COURT. [ APPLAUSE ]
MY WIFE ASHLEY IS A PROUD WEST TEXAN FROM ABILENE, TEXAS.
GRADUATE OF ABILENE COOPER
PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL, UNIVERSITY
OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN.
SHE’S THE DEDICATED TOWN MANAGER
OF OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY.
SHE’S GOT A DEEP FAITH.
SHE’S AN AWESOME MOM, A GREAT
WIFE.
WIFE. SHE IS A ROCK.
I THANK GOD EVERY DAY FOR ASHLEY
AND MY FAMILY.
[ APPLAUSE ]
THE SENATE CONFIRMATION PROCESS WAS CONTENTIOUS AND EMOTIONAL.
THAT PROCESS IS OVER.
MY FOCUS NOW IS TO BE THE BEST
JUSTICE I CAN BE.
I TAKE THIS OFFICE WITH
GRATITUDE AND NO BITTERNESS.
ON THE SUPREME COURT, I WILL
SEEK TO BE A FORCE FOR STABILITY
AND UNITY.
AND UNITY. MY GOAL IS TO BE A GREAT JUSTICE
FOR ALL AMERICANS AND FOR ALL OF
AMERICA.
AMERICA. I WILL WORK VERY HARD TO ACHIEVE
THAT GOAL.
THAT GOAL. I WAS NOT APPOINTED TO SERVE ONE
PARTY OR ONE INTEREST BUT TO
SERVE ONE NATION.
AMERICA’S CONSTITUTION AND LAWS
PROTECT EVERY PERSON OF EVERY
BELIEF AND EVERY BACKGROUND.
EVERY LITIGANT IN THE SUPREME
COURT CAN BE ASSURED THAT I WILL
LISTEN TO THEIR ARGUMENTS WITH
RESPECT AND AN OPEN MIND.
EVERY AMERICAN CAN BE ASSURED
THAT I WILL BE AN INDEPENDENT
AND IMPARTIAL JUSTICE DEVOTED TO
EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER LAW.
ALTHOUGH THE SENATE CONFIRMATION
PROCESS TESTED ME, AS IT HAS
TESTED OTHERS, IT DID NOT CHANGE
ME.
ME. MY APPROACH TO JUDGING REMAINS
THE SAME.
THE SAME. A GOOD JUDGE MUST BE AN UMPIRE,
A NEUTRAL AND IMPARTIAL DECIDER
WHO FAVORS NO LITIGANT OR
POLICY.
POLICY. A JUDGE MUST BE INDEPENDENT AND
MUST INTERPRET THE LAW, NOT MAKE
THE LAW.
THE LAW. A JUDGE MUST INTERPRET STATUTES
AS WRITTEN, AND A JUDGE MUST
INTERPRET THE CONSTITUTION AS
WRITTEN, INFORMED BY HISTORY AND
TRADITION AND PRECEDENT.
IN THE WAKE OF THE SENATE
CONFIRMATION PROCESS, MY
APPROACH TO LIFE ALSO REMAINS
THE SAME.
THE SAME. I WILL CONTINUE TO HEED THE
MESSAGE OF MATTHEW 25.
I WILL CONTINUE TO VOLUNTEER TO
SERVE THE LEAST FORTUNATE AMONG
US.
US. I WILL CONTINUE TO COACH, TEACH
AND TUTOR.
AND TUTOR. I WILL CONTINUE TO STRIVE TO BE
A GOOD FRIEND, COLLEAGUE,
HUSBAND AND DAD.
AS IN THE PAST, OUR NATION TODAY
FACES CHALLENGES AND DIVISIONS.
BUT I AM AN OPTIMIST.
I LIVE ON THE SUNRISE SIDE OF
THE MOUNTAIN.
THE MOUNTAIN. I SEE THE DAY THAT IS COMING,
NOT THE DAY THAT IS GONE.
I AM OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE
OF AMERICA AND THE FUTURE OF OUR
INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY, THE CROWN
JEWEL OF OUR CONSTITUTIONAL
REPUBLIC.
REPUBLIC. AS A JUSTICE ON THE SUPREME
COURT, I WILL ALWAYS STRIVE TO
PRESERVE THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
UNITED STATES AND THE AMERICAN
RULE OF LAW.
THANK YOU ALL.
[ APPLAUSE ]