Supreme Court Justices Alito and Thomas not planning to retire this year, sources say

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CBS News

Updated on: April 17, 2026 / 8:25 PM EDT


Sources close to Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito confirm that he is not planning to retire this year. Sources close to Justice Clarence Thomas also tell CBS News that he does not plan to step down. That indicates that this year, with the midterm elections on the horizon, President Trump will not be able to plan on an opportunity to make his fourth nomination to the Supreme Court.

Alito's plans were first reported by Fox News. Alito, who is 76, and Thomas, 77, are two of the core members of the court's conservative majority. Speculation about possible retirements tends to arise as the court approaches the end of its term. Mr. Trump told Fox Business' Maria Bartiromo earlier this week that he's "prepared" to name two or three new justices if vacancies open up.

"In theory, it's two — you just read the statistics — it could be two, could be three, could be one," Mr. Trump said. "I don't know. I'm prepared to do it.". He added, "when you mention Alito, he is a great justice."

Alito has served on the high court since 2006 and Thomas since 1991. Mr. Trump was able to fill three seats on the court during his first term, nominating Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett.

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/supreme-court-justices-alito-thomas-not-retiring-sources-say/

[johnnyfins]

1. They still have MANY more bribes to take.

[in2herbs]

2. A few weeks back I read an article stating that Alito had a book coming out at the end of this

judicial season and intended to retire at that time. He has been ill.

[thesquanderer]

3. If Dems win back Senate in November, I fear they could change their mind before the Senate changes hands in January...

...and I certainly wouldn't rule out some way for Trump to bribe them to do so.

[BumRushDaShow]

4. They most certainly will

Count on it. Thune will do his best Turtle impression and ram it through in less than a month (and Turtle is still there to show him how).

[bluestarone]

6. 100% that will be the deciding factor.

Count on it!! Hope somehow the senators there now can BLOCK for awhile. (but i doubt it)

[travelingthrulife]

5. How about that woman accusing Thomas of raping her when she was 5 years old.

Both are in the Trump-Epstein Sex Trafficking and Blackmail Services, Inc. files. They can't quit until they die.

[BumRushDaShow]

9. If the Anita Hill testimony had ZERO effect on his being confirmed

then nothing will touch him at this point.

[DallasNE]

7. This Just Means

That offer to step down needs to be sweetened. Probably substantially.

[eppur_se_muova]

8. Good. I want them to be around to suffer apoplectic shock when our first female President is sworn in.

I wonder if the WH would force Thomas into having the honor of swearing her in ? "You're Black, she's Black, it's great optics! What's the problem?"

(Of course there's no telling which Justices will be alive on that golden day.)