Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Alito not expected to retire this term, cooling Supreme Court vacancy speculation: sources
Fox News ^ | April 17, 2026 | Alec Schemmel , Ashley Oliver , Shannon Bream

Posted on 04/18/2026 8:48:22 AM PDT by MinorityRepublican

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito is not expected to step down this term and has already hired all four law clerks for the upcoming annual term despite speculation the high court justice was weighing retirement, multiple sources said.

Alito "is not stepping down this term and is in the process of hiring the rest of his clerks for the next term," a source told Fox News Digital. Two other sources told Fox News that Alito is not retiring this term, which lasts until the Supreme Court's new year kicks off in October.

Justices tend to hire their clerks two to three years in advance, although that process is not necessarily indicative of a justice's retirement plans.

The revelation that Alito is reportedly not planning to step down comes after President Donald Trump told Fox Business' Maria Bartiromo he is "prepared" to appoint up to three Supreme Court justices if vacancies arise. Trump added he has a shortlist of nominees in mind, though he did not mention any names.

"In theory, it's two or three, they tell me — if you just read statistics — it could be two, could be three, could be one," Trump told Bartiromo. "I don't know. I'm prepared to do it. But when you mention Alito, he is a great justice."

Trump said he thinks Alito, who has sided with him on most high-profile cases, is "in very good physical health" and called him "one of the great justices of our time."

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS:

Click here: to donate by Credit Card

Or here: to donate by PayPal

Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794

Thank you very much and God bless you.


1 posted on 04/18/2026 8:48:22 AM PDT by MinorityRepublican
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

I know he’s good. But two need to retire this summer.


2 posted on 04/18/2026 8:51:22 AM PDT by napscoordinator (DeSantis is a beast! Florida is the freest state in the country! )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: napscoordinator

I know he’s good. But two need to retire this summer.


Why? Trump is older than any of them and he’s doing just fine.

Also, I expect republicans to win the White House in 2028. I believe a republican president will be choosing the those nominated.

Let’s not push out the best we have.


3 posted on 04/18/2026 8:58:23 AM PDT by boycott
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: napscoordinator
NO WAY should Alito or Thomas retire before the Midterms.

Thune's current Senate will NEVER approve a true conservative like those two.

The current Senate would give us another Traitor Roberts or secret Trump-hater ACB.

After the Mid-Terms, it is reasonable to expect at least two RINO traitors to be voted out -- Cornyn and Cassidy.

Also RINO POS Tillis is retiring.

That's three anti-MAGA votes removed.

4 posted on 04/18/2026 9:22:38 AM PDT by HandBasketHell
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: napscoordinator

Does it take a simple majority or one of those stupid 60 votes to get a new guy/gal confirmed? I think we are going to get slammed in the midterms, and that will change everything. I think Trump might have waited on Iran until after the midterms, but he says they would have had a nuke before that. So, who the hell knows?


5 posted on 04/18/2026 9:23:46 AM PDT by RetiredArmy (The Bible speaks truth! Don't believe it, you do so at your own peril. You'd better be right!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

In other court news, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has stayed the injunction stopping the construction at the White House. Trump can continue building his biggest and bestest ballroom.

https://media.cadc.uscourts.gov/orders/docs/2026/04/26-5123LDSN.pdf


6 posted on 04/18/2026 9:24:05 AM PDT by CFW
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: boycott
We cannot count on Republicans holding the White House in 2028, nor can we count on them holding the Senate in November. And if the Democrats gain control of the Senate in November, I would be shocked if they would confirm any justices appointed by Trump.

However, that's no reason for either Alito or Thomas to retire now. What I suspect is going to happen is that if the Republicans lose the Senate in November, one or both of the two oldest justices will retire so that Trump can nominate and the Senate can confirm a new Justice during the lame duck session.

7 posted on 04/18/2026 9:26:44 AM PDT by Bruce Campbells Chin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: RetiredArmy
Only a bare majority is required to confirm a Supreme Court Justice. It was none other than Mitch McConnell who eliminated the Senate filibuster for Supreme Court justices, which is what enabled Trump to ram through his nominations. The Turtle really had to put the squeeze on some of the squishier Senate Republicans, but he got all three of them confirmed.
8 posted on 04/18/2026 9:36:26 AM PDT by Bruce Campbells Chin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: HandBasketHell
Roy Cooper is going to replace Tom Tillis in NC.

We have a better chance in GA but we don't have a strong candidate to go up against Jon Ossoff.

9 posted on 04/18/2026 9:54:05 AM PDT by MinorityRepublican
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

There apparently are some folks who would rather have a Democrat than a squishy Republican. They’re going to find out exactly what that is like if the Democrats take the Senate in November. Or the House.


10 posted on 04/18/2026 9:55:56 AM PDT by Bruce Campbells Chin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Bruce Campbells Chin
There apparently are some folks who would rather have a Democrat than a squishy Republican. They’re going to find out exactly what that is like if the Democrats take the Senate in November. Or the House.

We may have 50 in the Senate, but for the time being that is all what we need.

11 posted on 04/18/2026 10:01:29 AM PDT by MinorityRepublican
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

Sotomayor... We need her to resign.

Fill that gap with one more Conservative justice and it’s a 7-2 conservative majority. Alito and Thomas can hang in there for the next Republican president and congress.

Maintaining a conservative Supreme Court is the only thing standing between a free America and a Socialist America. If the Supreme Court ever goes majority Liberal... America is toast.


12 posted on 04/18/2026 10:10:12 AM PDT by jerod (Nazis were essentially Socialist in Hugo Boss uniforms... Get over it!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jerod

Sotomayor... We need her to resign.


Need to keep feeding her sweets.


13 posted on 04/18/2026 10:10:45 AM PDT by dfwgator ("I am Charlie Kirk!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: boycott
I expect republicans to win the White House in 2028.

Republicans have to hold onto the Senate too, or it doesn't matter who is elected President. No conservative Supreme Court nominee will ever be confirmed by a Democrat controlled Senate. We can barely get one through a Republican controlled Senate.

14 posted on 04/18/2026 10:12:52 AM PDT by Bubba_Leroy (Our long national nightmare is over!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: RetiredArmy

Only 51. VP can break tie.


15 posted on 04/18/2026 10:14:41 AM PDT by napscoordinator (DeSantis is a beast! Florida is the freest state in the country! )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: HandBasketHell

If we wait till after midterms, if we still have majority, it won’t be as big as now so it could be even worse.


16 posted on 04/18/2026 10:15:57 AM PDT by napscoordinator (DeSantis is a beast! Florida is the freest state in the country! )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: napscoordinator

I know it will never happen, but I’d love to see the Wise Latina™ retire.


17 posted on 04/18/2026 10:18:46 AM PDT by definitelynotaliberal (I believe it! He's alive! Sweet Jesus!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: definitelynotaliberal

Definitely. She’s always written nasty writings and talks bad about fellow justices and not just this recent time.many times.


18 posted on 04/18/2026 10:21:20 AM PDT by napscoordinator (DeSantis is a beast! Florida is the freest state in the country! )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson