NOMINATIONS/SUPREME COURT/TRUMP PEOPLE: “President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee may not have to wait too long for controversial cases if he is confirmed to the job, with disputes involving abortion, immigration, gay rights, voting rights and transgender troops possibly heading toward the justices soon. Republicans are hoping Brett Kavanaugh, the conservative U.S. appeals court judge selected on Monday [7-9-18] by Trump to replace retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy, will be confirmed by the Senate before the next Supreme Court term opens in October. There are no blockbusters among the 38 cases already on the docket for the justices, but they could add disputes on controversial issues being appealed from lower courts. Legal battles are developing over state laws restricting abortion including one in Arkansas that effectively bans medication-induced abortions. The justices in May opted not to intervene in a case challenging that law, waiting instead for lower courts to rule, but it could return to them in the future.”
–Lawrence Hurley, Andrew Chung, “Trump high court pick Kavanaugh may face contentious cases soon,” Reuters, July 10, 2018 1:38 pm