The Nation - News from Jan. 22, 1988

Supreme Court nominee Anthony M. Kennedy said he has serious doubts whether Congress has the power to strip the high court of jurisdiction over school prayer cases, according to documents released by the Senate Judiciary Committee. In written answers to committee members’ questions submitted after his Supreme Court confirmation hearings in December, Kennedy also defended his decisions in several civil rights and women’s rights cases and his past memberships in private clubs that excluded women or minorities, which have drawn criticism from liberals. Some conservative groups and members of Congress have supported legislation to strip the high court of jurisdiction over cases involving school prayer, abortion and school busing.