Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy through the years

Former California federal appeals Judge Anthony Kennedy, left, delivers brief remarks on Nov. 11, 1987, at the White House after President Ronald Reagan announced he will nominate Kennedy to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Neil Gorsuch, left, smiles at Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy on April 10, 2017, before taking the oath as a Supreme Court justice during a ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington.

President Donald Trump, left, and Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy participate in a public swearing-in April 10, 2017, for new Justice Neil Gorsuch in the Rose Garden of the White House White House in Washington.

Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy prepares to give the “Response on Behalf of the Honorary Degree Recipients” speech during the 174th commencement exercises May 11, 2006, at New York University in New York City.

U.S. Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas, left, and Justice Anthony Kennedy talk with House Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee Chairman Jose Serrano, D-N.Y., before testifying on Capitol Hill on March 8, 2007, in Washington.

Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy whispers to fellow Justice Sandra Day O’Connor during a groundbreaking outside the Supreme Court on June 17, 2003. The ceremony was held to mark the beginning of the Supreme Court Building modernization project, the first upgrade since its completion in 1935.

Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, left, shown June 27, 2018, who was nominated to the high court by President Reagan and confirmed in 1988, will retire as associate justice effective July 31, according to a statement released by the court.

Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy speaks to faculty members Oct. 3, 2013, at the University of Pennsylvania law school in Philadelphia.

U.S. Supreme Court Justices Sandra Day O’Connor, from left, Anthony Kennedy, David Souter, Clarence Thomas, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer watch the swearing-in for U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts in the East Room of the White House on Sept. 29, 2005, in Washington.

First lady Laura Bush looks on as Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy gestures while addressing students at the School Without Walls on Jan. 28, 2002, in Washington.

Supreme Court Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy testifies before a House committee hearing March 23, 2015, on Capitol Hill in Washington.

The justices of the U.S. Supreme Court gather for an official group portrait June 1, 2017, to include new Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch, top row, far right, at the Supreme Court Building in Washington. Seated, from left are, Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Associate Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, Chief Justice John Roberts, Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, and Associate Justice Stephen Breyer. Standing, from left are, Associate Justice Elena Kagan, Associate Justice Samuel Alito Jr., Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor, and Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch.