this post was submitted on 18 Apr 2026
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Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, the subject of intensifying speculation about a potential retirement before the midterm elections, is not expected to leave the bench this year, sources close to the justice have told ABC News.

Alito, 76, has been hiring clerks for next term and intends to continue serving into at least 2027, the sources who have spoken to Alito told ABC.

The court's most senior member -- 77-year-old conservative Justice Clarence Thomas -- is also expected to remain on the bench.

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[–] Akasazh@lemmy.world 8 points 1 day ago (1 children)

In other 'news' grass is green and the pope remains Catholic

[–] dhork@lemmy.world 17 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

No, it's not really that obvious, at least for Alito. The article doesn't mention the fact that he has a book coming out soon, and I read in a different article that his scheduled book tour conflicts with the next Court term.

Plus, there is a small chance that Democrats win back the Senate, and if that happens before the next SCOTUS opening then there is zero chance Democrats act on it, after what happened with Garland's nomination to replace Scalia. So, if either justice was thinking of retiring, they would prefer to do it while Republicans still held the Senate.

I doubt Thomas ever leaves before his health forces to, though. He makes too much in ~~bribes~~ gratuities to make any other gig attractive.

[–] limonfiesta@lemmy.world 8 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Plus, there is a small chance that Democrats win back the Senate, and if that happens before the next SCOTUS opening then there is zero chance Democrats act on it

I wish I could muster that level of optimism for Chuck Schumer.

[–] dhork@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

I get it, but I think this time even Chuck will be on board. He can even call it the "McConnell Rule" if he wants. Politicians always love blaming the other side.

The only way a Democratic Senate would approve a new Trump justice would be if Democrats went to him and said "I know you won't nominate a Liberal, here is a list of Conservatives we would back" and Trump picked one of them. Yes, even Fetterman would support that.

And before you start hating on Chuck over supporting any Conservative judge, remember that there are a pile of Conservative judges who are pissed off over this Administration also. Forcing Trump to appoint a centrist may make the difference between Trump being able to successfully ratfuck the next Presidential election, or not.

[–] limonfiesta@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

That's a roller coaster of a comment.

First you say that Chuck would probably be on board for the "McConnell rule", and then freely admit that he would also be on board for confirming a conservative judge that he "approved of".

Well, I don't think you're wrong about the second part. I also think Chuck would confirm a conservative justice, and for him the only requirement would be unconditional support for Israel, with some lip service to civil liberties, that's it.

Because all Chuck cares about is Israel and expanding corporate power, in that order.

[–] dhork@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

No, my point is that not all Conservative judges are the same. And, if you take the Constitution seriously, the President has a right to pick someone, and the Senate has a right to advise him on who they find acceptable, and their consent is a requirement. So this the way it was supposed to have worked all along.

Remember that Anthony Kennedy is a conservative, and he was nominated to the Court by Reagan. Yet, once the Court started to lurch to the Right he ended up being the swing vote. Regardless, though, he retired while Republicans could fully control his replacement.

You could argue Kennedy was a compromise choice, because the Senate was in control of Democrats at the time, and they had already rejected Robert Bork for the job. If Chuck could force a similar outcome, wouldn't that be a good thing?

[–] Maeve@kbin.earth 3 points 1 day ago

Or any of the rotating villain "opposition."

[–] Akasazh@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Fair enough, still the norm seems to be to cling to the seat till deaths cold hands pry you from it.

[–] dhork@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago

Well, yeah, it is a lifetime appointment. It, quite literally, takes an Act of Congress to be fired from it. So they can hold to the job as long as they want.