Trump begins Supreme Court search to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy

US President Donald Trump has said the search for a replacement for retiring Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy will "begin immediately".

"We have to pick one that's going to be there for 40 years, 45 years," Mr Trump said at a rally in North Dakota.

The retirement of Mr Kennedy, a conservative who sided with liberals on many votes, gives Mr Trump the chance to shift the top court's balance more to the right for decades to come.

The judge, 81, will retire on 31 July.

He made the announcement on Wednesday, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family after 30 years on the top court. 

Mr Trump later praised Mr Kennedy who held the pivotal vote on many key cases as "a great justice of the Supreme Court".

"Hopefully we are going to pick somebody who will be as outstanding," he told reporters at the White House.

The judge's retirement gives Mr Trump his second Supreme Court pick since he became president, and he has said he will choose from a list of 25 conservative candidates.

SOURCE: BBC NEWS
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