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By Jenna Sundel
News Reporter
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President Donald Trump hopes U.S. Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito remain on the bench, he said on Monday in an interview.
Politico's Dasha Burns mentioned that Thomas is 77 and Alito 75 before asking: “Do you want one more [justice] on there?”
“Uh, well, I hope they stay ’cause I think they’re fantastic, OK? Both of those men are fantastic,” Trump answered.
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No justice has publicly announced plans to retire.
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Why It Matters
The Supreme Court currently has a 6-3 conservative majority, including three justices appointed by Trump during his first presidential term: Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett. The Court’s conservative majority has ruled in favor of the Trump administration on issues such as immigration enforcement and cuts at federal government agencies.
What To Know
The Wall Street Journal, citing people close to Alito, reported last year that he had no plans to retire amid speculation among legal activists that he would retire so Trump could appoint a younger conservative to his seat.
Reuters reported last year that Thomas had not announced plans to retire despite rumors shared on social media.
Thomas began serving on the Supreme Court in 1991 after being nominated by President George H. W. Bush. He is the court’s longest-serving current member.
Alito began serving on the Court in 2006 after being nominated by President George W. Bush.
Former Justices Stephen Breyer and Anthony Kennedy did not retire until they were in their 80s, and former Justice John Paul Stevens did not step down until he was 90.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump, during an interview with Politico on Monday: “I will say this, the Democrats want to pack the court. They want to have 21 justices. That would be a...a terrible thing for this country.”
A person close to Justice Samuel Alito, in comments to The Wall Street Journal last year: “Despite what some people may think, this is a man who has never thought about this job from a political perspective. The idea that he’s going to retire for political considerations is not consistent with who he is.”
What Happens Next
The Supreme Court’s current term began on October 6 (the first Monday in October) and will run through late June or early July.
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