Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, suggested there is a “very real possibility” Justice Anthony Kennedy retires from the Supreme Court this year.
“What I’m hearing is that he is at least considering it, and that it is a very real possibility,” Lee told Fox News Radio on Tuesday when asked about Kennedy’s future on the bench. “What I’ve also heard is that having been appointed by President Reagan in the late 1980s, he considers himself a Republican, and with all things being equal, would prefer to be replaced by a Republican president.”
Kennedy celebrated his 30th year on the Supreme Court in February, and as he approaches his 82nd birthday in July, there has been speculation as to how long he will serve on the high court.
Now, with the Supreme Court approaching the conclusion of its term at the end of June, rumors about Kennedy’s future have again begun swirling.
Lee said he has “no conclusive evidence one way or another” as to whether the justice will retire, but noted any announcement of a retirement would likely occur between now and July 1st or 2nd.
“There is a lot of chatter suggesting that Justice Kennedy might be preparing for retirement as soon as this year,” the Utah senator said.
With his speculation about Kennedy’s future, Lee joins a growing number of Senate Republicans who have suggested the 81-year-old justice will step down.
During an event in March, Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., predicted Kennedy would retire around early summer and said he hopes a Supreme Court vacancy would mobilize the base for the midterm elections.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, also nudged any justice preparing to retire this year to do so soon.
“This has to be done before the November election,” Grassley told radio host Hugh Hewitt this month. “So my message to any of the nine Supreme Court justices, if you’re thinking about quitting this year, do it yesterday.”
Lee echoed the need for the Senate to act quickly should a justice step down from the high court.
“I think it should be something we jump right on to and something we certainly should complete before we get into the election cycle, before we near the November election,” he said. “Nobody knows that’s going to happen in that election, and if President Trump ends up having a chance to nominate someone to the Supreme Court, we need to get that nominee confirmed.”
