Trump Picks DC Circuit's Kavanaugh as Supreme Court Nominee

President Donald Trump chose Judge Brett Kavanaugh, 53, of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit Monday night to be his nominee to replace retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy on the Supreme Court.

Kavanaugh had by far the most telecom and media experience of any reported contenders, all appellate judges, for the nomination to the high court.

In dissenting from a D.C. Circuit en banc ruling affirming the FCC's 2015 net neutrality order, he argued the "major" regulation didn't deserve Chevron deference to agency expertise, lacked clear congressional authorization and violated broadband ISP First Amendment speech rights. He has also found programming rules violate cable operator speech rights, upheld partial telco forbearance relief decisions and ruled on many other FCC orders.

The jurist's record sparked initial polarized views in communications circles in our report.