Justice O'Connor Retires

[Candy]

Breaking News.

Not meant to be political. I just didn't see this coming.

[ToSeek]

Some people had mentioned her as a possibility, but most thought Rehnquist would retire first.

[gillianren]

well, yeah, on account of the cancer.

I'm deeply, deeply worried. five years ago, when the Democrats were trying to convince me not to vote for Nader (they didn't have to bother; I don't like Ralph Nader), they sent me a flier with the ages of all the Supreme Court Justices. I'm not sure now (it's been five years, after all), but I don't think O'Connor was even on their "probably going to resign/die soon" list.

[Candy]

Sandra Day O'Connor

O'Connor's decision _ so closely held that a son did not know in advance _ marked the first retirement in 11 years on an aging court. It came as a modest surprise, particularly since Chief Justice William Rehnquist has been the subject of retirement rumors for months. Rehnquist, 80 and ailing with thyroid cancer, has offered no hint as to his future plans.

Husband's Alzheimer's

A court spokeswoman cited O'Connor's age and said the justice, who is one of America's most powerful women, needed to spend time with her husband. He has Alzheimer's disease, people close to the family have said.

She will be missed, and I wish her luck.