Hey, he said it, not me.

Now wouldn't it be funny if the DEMs win the Senate?

https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/justice-alito-confirms-considering-retirement-215126597.html

Current Justices and Ages

Clarence Thomas: 78 years old (born June 23, 1948)

Samuel A. Alito, Jr.: 76 years old (born April 1, 1950)

Sonia Sotomayor: 72 years old (born June 25, 1954)

John G. Roberts, Jr. (Chief Justice): 71 years old (born January 27, 1955)

Elena Kagan: 66 years old (born April 28, 1960)

Brett M. Kavanaugh: 61 years old (born February 12, 1965)

Neil M. Gorsuch: 59 years old (born August 29, 1967)

Ketanji Brown Jackson: 56 years old (born September 14, 1970)

Amy Coney Barrett: 54 years old (born January 28, 1972)

If Alito's going to retire in 2027, I think it would be too late to let Trump and his Senate agree on a successor. They should wait until after the Presidential Inauguration of 2029 to select the next Justice. Seems only fair.

(Mitch "Rolling Corpse" McConnell taught me a lot about hardball politics.)

As of October 2026, 116 individuals have served as justices of the U.S. Supreme Court, dating back to 1789.

46 U.S. Supreme Court justices have died while still serving on the Court.

Here is a list of the oldest departees, whether by retirement or death:


Here's the top 50 with year of departure added. It keeps the same ranking and the same caveat: this is from memory, so ranks within an age tie are approximate.

1. Holmes, 90, retired, 1932
2. Stevens, 90, retired, 2010
3. Taney, 87, died, 1864
4. Ginsburg, 87, died, 2020
5. Blackmun, 85, retired, 1994
6. Black, 85, retired, 1971
7. Brennan, 84, retired, 1990
8. Breyer, 83, retired, 2022
9. Thurgood Marshall, 82, retired, 1991
10. Brandeis, 82, retired, 1939
11. Duvall, 82, retired, 1835
12. Kennedy, 82, retired, 2018
13. McKenna, 81, retired, 1925
14. Field, 81, retired, 1897
15. Rehnquist, 80, died, 2005
16. Nelson, 80, retired, 1872
17. Scalia, 79, died, 2016
18. Frankfurter, 79, retired, 1962
19. John Marshall, 79, died, 1835
20. Powell, 79, retired, 1987
21. Hughes, 79, retired, 1941
22. Burger, 79, retired, 1986
23. Catron, about 79, died, 1865
24. McReynolds, 78, retired, 1941
25. Bradley, 78, died, 1892
26. Cushing, 78, died, 1810
27. John Marshall Harlan, 78, died, 1911
28. Earl Warren, 78, retired, 1969
29. Van Devanter, 78, retired, 1937
30. Clifford, 77, died, 1881
31. Fuller, 77, died, 1910
32. Douglas, 77, retired, 1975
33. Wayne, 77, died, 1867
34. Swayne, 76, retired, 1881
35. Daniel, 76, died, 1860
36. McLean, 76, died, 1861
37. Byron White, 76, retired, 1993
38. Smith Thompson, 75, died, 1843
39. Grier, 75, retired, 1870
40. O'Connor, 75, retired, 2006
41. Sutherland, 75, retired, 1938
42. Edward White, 75, died, 1921
43. Samuel Miller, 74, died, 1890
44. Horace Gray, 74, died, 1902
45. Pierce Butler, 73, died, 1939
46. William Day, 73, retired, 1922
47. Harlan Stone, 73, died, 1946
48. Blatchford, 73, died, 1893
49. John Marshall Harlan II, 72, retired, 1971
50. Stanley Reed, 72, retired, 1957

Big C said:

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If Alito's going to retire in 2027, I think it would be too late to let Trump and his Senate agree on a successor. They should wait until after the Presidential Inauguration of 2029 to select the next Justice. Seems only fair.

(Mitch "Rolling Corpse" McConnell taught me a lot about hardball politics.)

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I'm sure he's saying it now so they can make it a reason to vote republican.
They realize they might lose the senate and then Dems can lock out any changes - thus why I looked ages at death.

Supreme Court justices should have a maximum age of 65 and serve no more than twenty years. Lifetime appointments were a terrible idea that maybe made sense with a typical 18th century lifespan.

I just think 9 justices, 18 year term, 1 new just every 2 years would be a good system. 45% of the House vote to approve the nomination.

Totally agree!

Vote Blue and Vote Becerra

The whole thing should be scrapped. It's an 18 th century enlightenment substitute for a deity. Has no relevance

Anarchistbear said:

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The whole thing should be scrapped. It's an 18 th century enlightenment substitute for a deity. Has no relevance

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I'm sure Trump would be cool with that. Real cool. He could appoint Judge Cannon, Czaress of All Things Legal and Princess of Darkness

Aunburdened said:

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Supreme Court justices should have a maximum age of 65 and serve no more than twenty years. Lifetime appointments were a terrible idea that maybe made sense with a typical 18th century lifespan.

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Agree to the theme of this!

dajo9 said:

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I just think 9 justices, 18 year term, 1 new just every 2 years would be a good system. 45% of the House vote to approve the nomination.

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First thing they need to do is write a law that prohibits the senate Majority Leader from not holding hearings.

That was downright criminal.
But I'd do the same back to the Republicans WITH the announcement that when we win the WH we will pass that law. That way, the criminality is tied 1-1. Tit for tat.

concordtom said:

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dajo9 said:

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I just think 9 justices, 18 year term, 1 new just every 2 years would be a good system. 45% of the House vote to approve the nomination.

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First thing they need to do is write a law that prohibits the senate Majority Leader from not holding hearings.

That was downright criminal.
But I'd do the same back to the Republicans WITH the announcement that when we win the WH we will pass that law. That way, the criminality is tied 1-1. Tit for tat.

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Schumer will cut a lousy deal and give the Republicans a Justice