Justice Kennedy to highlight Maui judicial conference

U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy will highlight this year’s 9th Circuit Judicial Conference on Maui.

The conference began yesterday but does not get rolling until tomorrow, with various forums and meetings at the Hyatt Regency in Lahaina.

The chief judge of California’s Northern District, Vaughn Walker, will host a breakfast meeting Tuesday. He issued a controversial ruling on Aug. 4 overturning California’s Proposition 8, which had blocked gay marriages in that state.

The conference highlight is likely to be on Thursday, when Kennedy is scheduled to deliver the keynote address.

Kennedy is thought to be the likely deciding vote if the Supreme Court reviews Walker’s ruling in the future.