Prediction: Stevens will retire within four months of inauguration.

[Pacifist Patriot]

I'm actually being generous. I personally suspect he wiould love to retire about 18 nanoseconds after Obama is sworn in. Seriously though, I do think we will see at least two new justice appointments in Obama's first term. Just one more reason to grin like an idiot next week. :)

[bigwillq]

1. That was, maybe, the No. 1 reason

why we needed to elected a DEM president! :)

[Thrill]

2. I bet Ginsberg retires before him

[Shakespeare]

15. I was just about to post the same thing.

She's very, very frail after fighting cancer. :-(

[MichiganVote]

3. I give him a month. Ditto for Ginsberg.

[tekisui]

4. How exciting will that be.

Seriously, though. They need to retire within the first year of Obama's first term. We don't know what might happen to the Senate in 2010. I hope to maintain and build, but there are no guarantees.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

5. Prediction: Ginsberg will retire first.

[tritsofme]

6. It will either happen immediately, or in June.

When the Court's term is over.

I wouldn't be surprised if Stevens and Ginsberg both stepped down in June.

[Occam Bandage]

7. Fond hope: Scalia will within the next four years. He turns 73 in a few months.

Please let his health deteriorate. Nothin' too bad, I don't want him dead or seriously ill, just enough that he starts to think that maybe he's had a nice, long career, and maybe he'd like to spend his remaining years in the sun somewhere, reading and enjoying life, without so much stress...

[Hardrada]

10. And Clarence Thomas will follow suit ten minutes later.

[mentalsolstice]

23. Clarence Thomas always follows suit ten minutes later

if King Antonin calls it, Clarence follows. At least it's predictable.

[Occam Bandage]

24. Hell, Alito would probably strongly consider retiring for his health if Uncle Tony does it.

[Harry Monroe]

16. Yeah, nothing too bad for Scalia

I don't wish him dead or seriously ill either, just severe hemmhroids, requiring some surgery, so he can no longer "sit" on the bench and has to retire. It would be poetic justice for that asshole.

[Lex]

17. Scalia and Thomas don't look like the healthiest of guys

not that I wish them any bad health.

[Hippo_Tron]

30. I wish he would just decide that he needs to cash in on his career

The Supreme Court pays a fraction of what the lecture circuit would. With today's economy you really can't be too careful. Best to make the most of financial opportunities while you still can.

[MasonJar]

8. Well, what difference will that make on the Court? Stevens is a

Progressive. So if he retires soon or stays on for years, it will not change the Court's leanings. The second retirement probably will not either, since no rightist is close to retiring. If McCain had won pres, of course, the poor judge would have had to die in office. I want Thomas and Scalia out. Kennedy can go too. And natch Scalia number 2 and Roberts.

[Drunken Irishman]

11. Because you want a young progressive on there.

If Stevens, Kennedy or Ginsburg don't retire in the next four years and Obama somehow loses re-election, we could be in a true mess.

[Hardrada]

9. One of the big mistakes in the Carter administration

was not to have some of the old New Deal and Great Society SC judges retire. I imagine they thought Carter would be re-elected. It did not work out well and we ended up with Reagan and Bush I appointees. And Bill Clinton did not get to appoint very many because the Reagan judges were not near retirement at the time.

[Hawaii Hiker]

12. Actually, I think David Souter might be the first to retire, as its

been reported many times that he does not like Washington DC all that much & wants to return to New Hampshire....

I'd bet he retires before Justice Stevens.....

[Rhiannon12866]

13. I think Roberts, Scalia, Scalito and Thomas are looking kind of old and tired, too...

;)

[Jennicut]

14. I wish Scalia was leaving ASAP. I can't stand that ugly turd.

"Get over it"-meaning the Supreme Court decision that made W president. What a scumbag.

[Rhiannon12866]

20. He IS a scumbag. And he also has a conflict of interest.

However, John Roberts is an alien... :scared:

[Jennicut]

22. The eyes scare me.

[Rhiannon12866]

28. They scare me, too!

Either he's an alien or he's possessed! Something's just not right there... :scared:

[Donald Ian Rankin]

35. Sadly, I don't. That's three of the four youngest justices you've named there.

The US Supreme court is probably going to have a sizeable conservative contingent for most of the next twenty years, and very probably a conservative majority for much of that time.

[AnnieBW]

18. I think that they'll hold on until the end of this term

But as soon as the current SCOTUS term ends, they're off like a prom dress.

[ladywnch]

19. I'm sorry, I expect those folks will hang on and die in office rather

than allow Obama fill their seats.

[Pacifist Patriot]

26. Nope, and I'll put my hard earned assets up against your expectations.

Obama is going to get at least one and maybe as many as three appointments in his first term.

[Lex]

27. Stevens, Ginsburg, and Souter

is what you're thinking? That seems likely.

[Hekate]

32. I think Stevens, Ginsberg, & Souter have been hanging on by their fingernails waiting for a Dem Prez

They're all quite old and Justice Ginsberg is very frail. The prospect of letting BushCheney fill their seats must have given them full-on loathing attacks.

Hekate

[ShadowLiberal]

21. I bet Stevens, Ginsburg, & Souter all retire in the next 2 years

Stevens and Ginsburg retiring is a given, they're old, and want to make sure a liberal replaces them on the court.

Souter retiring is less certain, but the rumor is that he's grown to hate the job, and hate the commute, and that he wants to retire and live in his home in New Hampshire.

[CK_John]

25. IMO, CJ Roberts has played his part and will leave to collect his rewards in about 2 months.n/t

[Hekate]

33. We wish, but why do you think it's a possibility? nt

[FrenchieCat]

29. As many as possible need to retire......while Obama is in office.

Obama and Biden visit the Supreme Court today.

[Hekate]

31. I think Justices Ginsberg and Stevens are owed a debt of gratitude for hanging on this long...

Now if only Fat Tony could be given an offer he couldn't refuse, and retire as well...

Hekate

[Donald Ian Rankin]

34. Unfortunately, all Obama can do is stop things getting worse.

Nearly all the oldest justices are liberals, so all Obama is likely to be able to do is replace liberals with liberals and stop things getting worse, rather than actually make things better.

The only exception is Scalia, and I expect him to hang on another eight years unless his health really goes.

[LiberalFighter]

36. Best scenario would be for them to wait as close as possible to end of Obama's first term.

That would probably be no later than very early 2012 otherwise late 2011. Of course, it would also be better if they all don't retire at one time either.

That would extend the time period provided someone appointed is in their early 50's.