Supreme Court Vacancies Likely in Next Four Years

Supreme Court Vacancies Likely in Next Four Years

One issue that has been totally absent from the campaign is the Supreme Court. Five of the justices are 70 or more. Justice Stevens is 88 and unlikely to want to serve 4 more years. Justice Ginsberg had cancer and was operated on for it. Justice Souter is known to want to retire and return to New Hampshire. These are three of the most liberal justices on the court. If all three retire and are replaced by Obama, the court will retain its even split between liberals and conservatives for many years to come. If all three are replaced by McCain, the conservatives will have a clear majority and surely reverse Roe v. Wade and many other decisions that conservatives think are wrong. It is amazing that the court has gotten so little attention.

Stevens 88

Ginsburg 75

Souter 69

Justice	Appointed by	Sworn in	Age
John Paul Stevens	Ford	1975	88
Ruth Bader Ginsburg	Clinton	1993	75
Antonin Scalia	Reagan	1986	72
Anthony Kennedy	Reagan	1988	72
Stephen Breyer	Clinton	1994	70
David Souter	Bush 41	1990	69
Clarence Thomas	Bush 41	1991	60
Samuel Alito	Bush 43	2006	58
John Roberts	Bush 43	2005	53

(SOURCE: http://www.electoral-vote.com)