AP NewsAlert: Supreme Court: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 85, Hospitalized After Fracturing 3 Ribs

[GatoGordo]

20. I was thinking about this scenario yesterday morning

There are some aging justices on the court (Ginsburg, 85, Breyer, 80). 85 is pretty old, and despite the desire of many of our "oldsters" to keep on rolling, (as to not gather moss) time and gravity wear them down. The aged take a lot longer to rebound, and are more susceptible to acquired illness and medications cloud the mind more easily.

I wouldn't doubt that some older Republican appointees (Thomas, 70) might consider stepping down during this presidency, as it is safe for them to do so. Unfortunately, we can't expect older Democrat appointees to keep plugging along as they start to fail, just because we want/need them to. (I am considering my own aging mother as I type this). We need Ginsburg on the court, but if she wants to call it quits sooner rather than later, we need to support her.

That being said, the power associated with being a justice must be pretty intoxicating. I am in awe any time a justice steps down.