Justice Ginsburg Says She Won’t Retire Before 2012; Hints She May Stay Until 2016

CNSNews ^ | February 4, 2011 | Nicholas Ballasy

[jazusamo]

(CNSNews.com) -- U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said on Thursday evening that she will not retire from the court before 2012 and hinted that she might serve until she's at least 83 years old in 2016.

VIDEO 1:57 minutes

Ginsburg was interviewed by NPR legal affairs correspondent Nina Totenberg at the Lisner Auditorium at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. The topic of the discussion was Ginsburg's life before and after becoming a Supreme Court justice.

“I am constantly asked, ‘Is Justice Ginsburg going to retire soon?’" Totenberg asked. "So, I will ask you that. Do you have any plans for your retirement?”

Ginsburg, who was born on March 15, 1933, will turn 78 next month. “I will give the answer that I just gave to you, Nina, a few moments ago," Ginsburg said. "One of the nice perks about this job is that we get to choose paintings from the storage supply of the National Gallery, the Museum of American Art, the Hirshhorn.

Supreme Court Associate
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

“I had a wonderful painting from the Museum of American Art by Josef Albers,” said Ginsburg. “It was taken away for a traveling exhibition and I’m told that it will come back to me sometime in 2012. So I am certainly not going to retire before I get my Albers back. Another answer I can give you is I was appointed at age 60, the same age that Louis Bidenz Brandeis was when he was appointed the court. He stayed until he was 83. So I do have a way to go.”

Ginsburg will be 83 on March 15, 2016. (Louis Brandeis retired from the Court at the age of 83 in 1939.)

President Barack Obama, who will be standing for reelection in 2012, has so far filled two vacancies on the Supreme Court, appointing Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor.

Last year, during the confirmation process for Justice Kagan, U.S. News and World Report published a piece on "rumors" that Justice Ginsburg might soon retire, and noted the recent death of her husband and her own bout with cancer. "While the court won't comment on the rumors, indications are that she might be looking to leave soon because of the recent death of her husband and also because of her own health issues," said U.S. News and World Report. "She recently underwent chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer."

[Hulka]

Later is best. . .at least until The Messiah is gone, otherwise Obama would put a younger Ruth on the court and we can't have that.

[numberonepal]

Progressives absolutely love sh!t art. It’s another way for them to snub their collective noses at true productivity.

[numberonepal]

Progressives absolutely love sh!t art. It’s another way for them to snub their collective noses at true productivity.

[Oldpuppymax]

This year, she would just be replaced by another Marxist.

[DoughtyOne]

Glad to be of service. ;^)

Have a good one...

[Recovering_Democrat]

Ruth Buzzi will hang on.

[kennedy]

I hope she lives long enough to make it past 2012, I would hate to see what Obama would replace her with.

Amen.

If Obama gets to replace her, her replacement will be legislating from the bench for the next 25 years or more.

[kennedy]

I think she'll retire quickly at the end of 2012 if it looks like Obama is going to lose, or if it's even going to be close.

If she retires at the end of 2012, there is too much risk that 40 Republican Senators will find the stones to block Obama's nominee to replace her and let the next President fill the seat.

If she does not retire at the end of the 2011 term, then she is either going to retire sometime late in Obama's second term (probably in 2015) or, if Obama loses, try and last until another Democrat is elected.

[Tanniker Smith]

Wait. She *doesn't* want Obama to replace her and may wait for a possible Republican president to replace her?

Revenge is a dish best served cold. And that's cold.
POed about the rumors, I'd guess.

(Obviously, the door is open for a different Dem to be in office in either 2012 or 2016.)

[Buckeye McFrog]

She is a sick old woman. The only way she’ll make it to 2016 is if they stuff her .... like Trigger

Don’t think they haven’t thought of that. You’ll know the time is near when you see Pelosi signing up for ventriloquist lessons...

[zeugma]

Much as I dislike this incoherent looney lib (read just about any opinion she authors that is not unanymous and you'll know what I mean), I'd really like to see her make it just beyond Zero's ability to appoint her successor. I would seriously doubt she'll make it though, and I doubt her demise will be natural. I wouldn't be suprised at all if the Powers That Be had her manchurianed.

[clearcarbon]

Isn’t she the one that court artists draw sleeping on the bench?

Falling asleep in no way diminishes her utility or value to the court.

[Friendofgeorge]

As long as she holds on into 2013, President Palin can fill her spot.

Do these people have no fear of God? That`s what I have to wonder. Does she really want to be confronted by the Lord for her rulings in regards to infanticide, and removing the things of God from the classroom/public square etc?

Because she is in for a surprise, when she meets her maker.

[Blood of Tyrants]

I would LOVE to watch the liberals’ heads explode as President Palin nominated Anne Coulter to replace Ginsberg.

[jazusamo]

Great post, I’ll be thinking of that today and every time I do it’ll bring a smile. :-)