The death of Justice Antonin Scalia will have significant impacts on cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. According to a Politico story, Scalia’s death has put an even bigger spotlight on Justice Anthony Kennedy, who is considered the moderate on an ideologically split court.
Kennedy’s decisions are expected to be the crucial vote on a number of cases including a recent Texas abortion law that restricts where females can get abortions.
Randy Beck, who holds the Justice Thomas O. Marshall Chair of Constitutional Law in the School of Law and who once clerked for Kennedy, told Politico the justice has been “consistent in recognizing the right to abortion is one of constitutional significance” since he co-authored a 1992 case that reaffirmed Roe v. Wade.
“The bigger question is how deferential he is willing to be to states on health regulations,” Beck said.
