Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Stephen Breyer - how much longer will they stay on the courts?

[LynneSin]

I know that the only way the notorious 5 GOP jurists will leave the bench is either they die or there is a republican in the White House.

As much as I adore Breyer (74) and Ginsberg (80) I hope they retire soon so we can get them replaced with some new blood who will hopefully be on the Supreme Court for a couple of decades to come.

With Voter Rights Act in shambles who knows if the Democrats will win the White House again (although mind you I do believe if all votes are counted the Democrats will win - just like Al Gore would have won in 2000 if all the votes were counted).

Right now the 2 oldest GOP justices are Scalia and Kennedy. Kennedy looks like he could easily serve another decade but Big Tony looks like he's a meal away from a heart attack. And as easy as it was to get Sotomayer and Kagen confirmations done (they were replacing two other progressive judges), you know if Scalia, Kennedy or any of the other GOP judges leave the bench there will be some serious fighting. The GOP will NOT give up control of the bench!

[Politicalboi]

1. Unless of course

In 2014 we get a majority in the house, and over 60 dems in the senate. That would be great. And I hope old Fat Tony chokes soon.

[PoliticAverse]

2. Ginsberg has said...

"Another answer I can give you is I was appointed at age 60, the same age that Louis Bidenz Brandeis was when he was appointed the court. He stayed until he was 83. So I do have a way to go."

[allin99]

3. 83 would put her right on the money *prays*

[LynneSin]

4. I adore Ruth but she has to retire before the end of Obama's administration

Unless it looks like that the Democrats are a shoo-in. But with the GOP shenanigans who knows if a shoo-in means we'll win.

[allin99]

5. Do they sometimes do that?...

i mean, i personally would, but i know they're not political. Of course in her heart of hearts of course i think she would want to b/c she knows what could happen if she doesn't leave before O's time is up. But do SCJ ever do that?

[LynneSin]

6. Do what? Retire

Thurgood Marshall retired. Of course he was replaced by Clarence Thomas - ugh!

John Paul Stevens was almost 90 when he retired but waited until Obama got into office.

[allin99]

7. yes, wondering if they sometimes retire based on replacement opportunity.

or do they usually adhere to being apolitical.

[1-Old-Man]

8. I think you may be incorrect in including Kennedy on the conservative side, but more important ...

I do not think that President Obama will be given the opportunity to appoint any more Justices, even if Scalia, Roberts, and Alito have simultaneous lethal heart attacks this afternoon.

On edit: Now that I think about it the greater likelyhood is that Scalia will have the heart attack, Roberts will go into convulsions while crossing a street and be run over by a truck, and Alito will simply die outright because he is a miserable fuck.

[LynneSin]

9. They'll let Ginsberg slide since replacing her won't tip the scale

It's when the scales get tipped that the GOP will go all out to keep the appointment from happening.

[mick063]

10. I hope we can get to a new Democratic Administration

before a corporatist is installed.

[YeahSureRight]

11. They are doing the best they can but the 1% will give Christie the Job

along with the help of the Reagan Dems so we can pretty much expect a 7-2 court by 16/17. 7 Pubs 2 moderates.


Thank you third way! They and their supporters are responsible for the demise of freedom in America in the name of bipartisanship. But hey your guy won and that is all that matters not your guys destructive policies.