Life and Law: The Early Years

Justice Anthony Kennedy was at the ideological center of a closely divided U.S. Supreme Court for thirty years. Often writing landmark opinions in pivotal cases, he affirmed and redefined liberty for our nation—protecting political speech, upholding a woman’s right to choose, abolishing the death penalty for minors, and legalizing gay marriage.How did a devout Catholic, conservative in both temperament and politics, and a 1988 Reagan appointee to the Court, end up delivering some of the most consequential decisions of our time? To understand Anthony Kennedy is to know that, for him, judging is independent of personal politics, preferences, and religious beliefs. His conviction that legal decisions must be driven by neutral principles led him to rulings that were both celebrated and criticized across political lines. He was sometimes called a “swing vote,” but the term misunderstands his approach. In Justice Kennedy’s own words, “The cases swing, I don’t.” In Life, Law & Liberty, Kennedy tells his story—filled with personal heartbreak and incredible accomplishment—and reflects on the nuanced role of a judge. A product of the American West, he became a deeply principled guardian of the justice, fairness, and liberty our Constitution guarantees. The last justice to be unanimously confirmed to the Court, Justice Anthony Kennedy shows us that thoughtful, respectful discourse is necessary in these otherwise fractious times. Tracing a journey that includes a half century of service to our nation, Kennedy’s memoir reminds us what it means to live with optimism and decency, and inspires us to cherish our democracy.