>> ladies and gentlemen, the president of the united states. [applause]

>> my fellow americans, tonight i speak to from the east room of the white house regarding one of the most profound responsibilities of the president of the united states and that is the selection of a supreme court justice. that othern heard than matters of four and please, this is the most important decision a president will make. interested court is with the safeguard of the crown , the of our republic constitution of the united states.

full days ago, justice anthony kennedy, and for me of his decision to take senior status on the supreme court, opening a new vacancy. for more than four decades, justice kennedy served our nation with incredible passion and devotion. i would like to thank justice kennedy for a lifetime of distinguishing this -- service. [applause] >> in a few moments, i will announce my selection for justice kennedy's replacement. this is the second time i have been faced with this desk. last year, i nominated judge neil gorsuch to replace the late

great justice antonin scalia. [applause] i chose just as gorsuch because i knew that he, just like justice scalia, would be a faithful servant of our constitution. we are honored to be joined tonight by justice scalia's beloved wife. [applause] >> books justice kennedy and justice scalia were appointed by a president who understood that the best defense of our liberty and a judicial branch, a man from political pressures, where judges that apply the

constitution as written. happened to the ronald reagan. for this evening's announcement, we're joined by ronald reagan's attorney general. [applause] >> thank you for everything you have done to protect our nations great they will heritage. in keeping with president reagan's legacy, i did not ask about a nominees personal opinions. not a judge'ss political views but whether they can set aside those his to do what the law and the constitution required.

say, i have to doubt, such a a person. tonight, it is my honor and privilege to announce that i will nominate judge brent kavanaugh. to the united states of in court. [applause]

>> i know the people in this room very well, they do not stand and give applause very much. they have some respect. but wife ashley and their two daughters have joined a sunday podium. congratulations to you as a family . [applause] kavanaugh has impeccable credentials, unsurpassed qualifications, and a commitment to equal justice under the law. a graduate of yale college and your law school, judge kavanaugh

currently teaches at harvard, yale, and georgetown. throughout legal circles, he is considered a judges judge, a true thought leader among his peers. with a brilliant jurist at a clear and effective writing style, universally regarded as one of the finest and sharpest legal minds of our time. gorsuch, hest as excelled as a clerk for justice kennedy. [applause] >> judge kavanaugh has devoted his life to public service. for the last four years, he is served as a judge on the gc circuit court of appeals with great distinction authoring over 300 opinions which have been widely admired for the scale insight and rigorous adherence

to the law. among those kids are more than a dozen that the supreme court has adopted as the law of the land. renowned as a judge, she is active in his community. basketball, serves males to needy families, and having learned from his mom who is a schoolteacher inducing, tutors children at local elementary schools. there is no one in america more qualified for this position and i one more deserving feared want to thank the senators on both sides of the aisle. this includes vividly qualified nominee deserves a swift confirmation and robust bipartisan support. the rule of law is our nations powdered itch.

it is the cornerstone of our freedom. it is what guarantees equal justice and the senate, now has a chance to protect this glorious heritage by sending judge brent kavanaugh, to the united states supreme court. yearsudge the podium is -- yours. [applause] >> mr. president, thank you. process, i have witnessed firsthand, your appreciation for the vital role of the american judiciary. has ever consulted more widely or talked with more people from more backgrounds to

seek input about a supreme court nomination. mr. president, i am grateful to you and i am humbled by a confidence in me. reagans ago, president nominated anthony kennedy to the supreme court. the framers established the constitution is designed to secure the blessings of liberty. justice kennedy devoted his career to securing liberty. i am deeply honored to be nominated to fill his seat on the supreme court. [applause] >> i am an only child.

when people ask what it is like to be an only child, i say it depends on who your parents are. i was lucky. my mom was a teacher. and 60's, she taught history at two largely african-american public high schools in washington dc. example, taught me the example of equality for all americans. my mom was a trailblazer. when i was 10, she went to law school and became a prosecutor. my introduction to all came at our dinner table when she practiced her closing arguments. her trademark line was, use your true, sense, what rings what rings false. that is good advice for a juror

and a son. the few women prosecutors at that time, she overcame barriers and became a trial judge. the president introduced me tonight as judge capital. -- kavanaugh. but to me, the title will always belong to my mom. my dad went to law school at night while working full-time. he has an unparalleled work ethic and has passed down his passion to me of playing and watching sports. school wasf my high meant for others. create. live that i spent my career in public service from the executive branch in the white house to u.s. court of appeals in the d.c. circuit. i have served with 17 other judges, each of them, a colleague and a friend. my judicial philosophy history for.

the judge must be independent of must interpret the law, not make the law. the judge must interpret and a judgewritten must interpret the constitution as written informed by history, tradition, and precedents. for the past 11 years, i have taught hundreds of students, primarily at harvard law school food -- over law school. law school . i remain grateful to the dean who hired me. as a judge, i hired for clerks each year. i love trailer -- law clerks come from diverse points of view. i am proud that the majority of my law clerk seven women. i am part of the vibrant catholic community in the d.c.

area. the members of that community, disagree about many things, but we are united by commitment to serve. here. john gensler is 40 years ago, i was an altar boy for father john. opened serve meals to the homeless. daughters.spirited sports and she loves to read. sports and she loves to talk. i have tried to create bonds and my daughter and my debt created the me. for the past seven years, i've cushman daughters as well teams.

the girls on my team only coach k. i'm proud of our team that just from the city championship. [applause] i also go tors and a lot of games. our favorite memory was going to the historic notre dame women's festival game at this year's final four. unforgettable. my wife. is a west texan a public high school and the university of texas. she is now the town manager of our community. we met in 2001 when we both worked at the white house. on septembere was 10, 2001.

the next one was a few steps behind the secret service shouted at all of us to sprint out of the front gates of the white house because there was an inbound plane. all,he difficulties of ashley was a source of strength for president bush and for everyone in this building. through the days and sony better days, she has been a great wife and inspiring mom. i think god everyday for my family. [applause] >> tomorrow i begin meeting with members of the senate which

plays an essential role in this process. i will tell each senator, i revere the constitution. i believe that an independent judiciary is a chronicle of our constitutional republic. senate, ied by the will keep an open mind and every case. preserveways strive to the constitution of the united states and the american rule of law. thank you mr. president. [applause]

>> the announcement official, , his wifekavanaugh and two children on the podium. the republican of arkansas and other republican senators. senate democrats also provided for candidates in particular. alabama. alternate on down the invitation to participate in today's ceremony.