Kennedy wrote majority opinion striking down parts of Defense of Marriage Act . Kennedy and former Justice Sandra Day O'Connor were the court 's centrists . When O'Connor stepped down seven years ago , she `` handed the keys '' to Kennedy . " The Supreme Court is split 4-4 on whether DOMA violates federal law or constitutional guarantees for gay couples in states that allow such unions.
Kennedy wrote majority opinion striking down parts of Defense of Marriage Act . Kennedy and former Justice Sandra Day O'Connor were the court 's centrists . When O'Connor stepped down seven years ago , she `` handed the keys '' to Kennedy . With four conservatives to the right and four liberals to the left , Kennedy is squarely in middle .