Let's Do it Again...

The Root
By sherrilyn.ifill
Created 09/02/2009 - 17:53

Justice John Paul Stevens May Retire; Are We in for Another Court Fight?

Word on the street (Massachusetts Avenue, that is) began to circulate that Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens will resign at the end of the Court’s term.
On the heels of the Sotomayor confirmation, another Supreme Court seat may be in play. The potential appointment of three justices in his first term will make President Obama among the most powerful presidents to influence the Court’s direction in decades.
No sooner did the Supreme Court press office release details about the September 8th formal investiture ceremony of Justice Sonia Sotomayor [1], than word on the street (Massachusetts Avenue, that is) began to circulate that Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens will resign at the end of the Court’s term next spring. Justice Stevens has apparently chosen not to hire law clerks for the 2010 term, hiring only a summer law clerk [2].
This is the same action taken by recently retired Justice David Souter, which alerted court watchers to the likelihood of his imminent retirement. From the WAPO report:
"He could pick up the phone at any moment and hire first-rate clerks," Eisgruber said. "He may well feel he doesn't know what he wants to do and doesn't want to leave anybody in the lurch" by making the hires and then retiring. Retired justices are entitled to one clerk.
Stevens’ resignation (at age 89) will make the second of what will most likely be three opportunities for President Obama to nominate a justice to the Court. The potential appointment of three Supreme Court justices in his first term will make President Obama among the most powerful Presidents to influence the Court’s direction in decades.

Full Story: http://www.theroot.com/blogs/supreme-court/lets-do-it-again#comment-30871