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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2009
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Justice Stevens May Be Getting Ready to Retire

Liberal judge slows hiring of law clerks

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(AP) – Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens has hired only one law clerk for the upcoming legal season, generating speculation that the leader of the court's liberals will retire next year and give President Obama the chance to fill a second seat on the court. Justice David Souter, who was replaced by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, announced his retirement in May, and Souter’s failure to hire clerks was the first signal that he was contemplating leaving the court.

Stevens, 89, is among several justices who typically have hired all four clerks for the following year by now, but he has hired only one for the term that begins in October 2010. This may indicate plans for retirement, but analysts say Stevens would probably stay on if Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s pancreatic cancer takes a turn for the worse.

Associate Justice John Paul Stevens has hired fewer law clerks than usual for 2009, generating speculation in the legal community that the leader of the court's liberals will retire in the next year.
Associate Justice John Paul Stevens has hired fewer law clerks than usual for 2009, generating speculation in the legal community that the leader of the court's liberals will retire in the next year.   (J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE)
U.S. comments on the court at the 9th Circuit Judicial Conference in Honolulu, July 19, 2007.
U.S. comments on the court at the 9th Circuit Judicial Conference in Honolulu, July 19, 2007.   (Lucy Pemoni)
U.S. Supreme Justice John Paul Stevens, right, pokes fun at his colleague, Justice Antonin Scalia, left, during the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals annual dinner in Chicago, Monday, May 19, 2008.
U.S. Supreme Justice John Paul Stevens, right, pokes fun at his colleague, Justice Antonin Scalia, left, during the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals annual dinner in Chicago, Monday, May 19, 2008.   (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
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9 comments
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Jayster999
Sep 2, 09 9:42 AM CDT
Oh gad. One can only imagine what kind of affirmative action hire that Obummer will be nominating now. Perhaps a female Asian transsexual? Reply
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-12
IN RESPONSE:
Doctor_Zaius
Sep 2, 09 9:53 AM CDT
Leave your dating life out of this.
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+11
IN RESPONSE:
Robert_Dada
Sep 2, 09 9:54 AM CDT
Because white men bring no biases to the court that may influence their decisions, right? (sarcasm)
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+12
IN RESPONSE:
Yourself
Sep 2, 09 10:06 AM CDT
i'm gonna have to agree with Robert_Dada's sarcasm, cause as sarcastic as it may be, it's still true!
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+7
IN RESPONSE:
DJM420
Sep 2, 09 10:43 AM CDT
dr...its not dating when you pay for it...
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+8

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