Judge Urged to Stop Kennedy Center Changes Ahead of Closure

Lawyers for historic preservationists and a Democratic lawmaker urged a Washington federal judge to stop the planned closure of Kennedy Center for renovations, raising concerns that the performing arts center could be torn down like the White House’s East Wing.

Judge Christopher “Casey” Cooper of the US District Court for the District of Columbia held back-to-back hearings Tuesday and Wednesday to consider a pair of requests to prevent the administration from renaming, closing, or majorly renovating the the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts. The center was created by Congress as a living memorial to the late ...