Will Stevens and Ginsburg also retire within the next few years?

[brentspeak]

It would seem likely, especially for Stevens.

[Jennicut]

1. And Ginsburg had cancer didn't she?

[brentspeak]

2. Yes, pancreatic cancer

I can't see how much longer she can remain in the SCOTUS.

[CTyankee]

3. Stevens sounds pretty spry. Ginsburg has health issues.

I think she'll go before he will. But eventually, he will and it could be during Obama's admin.

My mother died at 94. She had NO chronic illnesses. She died of old age and also, she had quit eating...

[jwirr]

4. I do not wish them any ill but I would like to see them resign in plenty

of time for us to replace them this presidential term. I do not want to take any chances with this fickle country.

[DFW]

5. My hope is that Scalia and Kennedy retire, too

Replacing good with good is necessary. Replacing bad with good is the bonus we all crave.

[ShadowLiberal]

6. They're sure acting like they won't, but they've got to be considering it

Ginsberg especially strikes me as acting like she won't retire, with going for cancer treatment and trying to avoid missing a day on the court.

In the back of their minds however they've got to know that now is the best time to do it. Theoretically the democrats could gain seats in 2010 in the senate given all the republican retirements there in competitive states, but after that with how great of a year we had in 2006 and 2008 it's only going to get nearly impossible for us to not lose a seat or two at least, and thus make it a bit harder to nominate a hardcore liberal to the court.

I've read somewhere that the oldest supreme court judge was 92, so perhaps Stevens wants to hit and beat that mark before retiring in order to make history.

[Skink]

7. Could Obama appoint himself and let Biden finish the term.

He's is the kind of justice we need. Maybe the next President could appoint him.