Friends and associates believe Kennedy is seriously considering retirement. In general, the burdens of age and demands at the court weigh in one direction. His deep interest — and leading role — in America’s constitutional democracy weigh in the other.
The question appears not to be whether Kennedy will retire soon, but when — at the end of this June, or next?…
Sources close to the process say there have been discussions about potential replacements for Kennedy if the seat were to open up. Some of the names discussed include former clerks and others from Trump’s original list of 21 possible nominees he released during the campaign who might appeal to Kennedy.
That would include those who were on Trump’s previous lists: Judge Raymond M. Kethledge of the US Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit, who is a former Kennedy clerk, and Judge Thomas Hardiman of the 3rd Circuit, who was a runner up for the Scalia seat.
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