Is John Paul Stevens about to retire?

[scheming daemons]

In what could be a sign that he's contemplating retirement, Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens hired just one clerk for ...

... the 2010 session, AP reports.

AP: "Stevens confirmed through a court spokeswoman Tuesday that he has hired only one clerk for the term that begins in October 2010. He is among several justices who typically have hired all four clerks for the following year by now. Information about this advance hiring is not released by the court but is regularly published by some legal blogs.

"Stevens did not say whether he plans to hire his full allotment of clerks or whether he will leave the court at the conclusion of the term that begins next month. Retired justices are allowed to hire one clerk.

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http://www.politico.com/politico44/perm/0909/going_going_gone_7289c3c9-f479-4d0c-bda7-75d7efb785bb.html



He's getting up there in age... and better now, with Obama as President, than later.

[rox63]

1. If so, I'm glad he waited for a Dem president to be in office

He's in his late 80's, isn't he?

[timeforpeace]

7. That was the idea.

[Skink]

2. Just so that Obama can appoint himself to the court in 2016.

[Sebastian Doyle]

3. Probably a good thing if he retires before the 2010 election.

Just in case Congress really fuck up health care and loses a few Senate seats as a result. Stevens needs to be replaced by a true Liberal, not anybody with any sort of Poppy Bush appointing on their resume.

And (channeling my inner Pat Robertson) we still need to get rid of Fat Tony Scalia and/or Clarence the Clown somehow.

[Warpy]

4. His dissent in the shameful 2000 decision that

illegally installed Stupid into the presidency will be taught in classes on constitutional law as long as this country holds together. It was scathing.

He's done a wonderful job for us under the most trying of conditions, 40 years of unbroken conservatism from both parties.

If he is retiring, I wish him only the best. He's earned a rest.

It will be extremely difficult to find another justice of his stature.

[DCKit]

5. You KNOW Obama's already got a list.

I wonder who he's going to smack the Republics over the head with this time.

Sotomayor was a brilliant pick: Not only a qualified Justice, but the controversy drove Hispanics from the (R)s in huge numbers (apparently, even some RW Cubans).

[scheming daemons]

6. I say it will be another woman

2 is still too few out of 9.