Samuel Alito said Friday that he is staying on the Supreme Court for another term, ending weeks of speculation about whether he would step down. In an interview published in The ’s editorial section, the 76-year-old justice said, "Obviously, I’m here for another term."
Samuel Alito in chambers
In a rare interview in his chambers, Alito said he votes "in every case the way I think the case should be decided." He added, "If that means a high correlation with what Trump wants, fine. If it means zero correlation with what Trump wants, fine as well." The comment directly addresses the political theory that his decisions might track Donald Trump’s interests.
June retirement story
Discussion of Alito’s future intensified in June after an erroneous retirement story was published and then retracted. The Supreme Court said the story was inaccurate. That mistaken report gave the speculation its sharpest edge because a retirement would likely have given Donald Trump a chance to name a fourth Supreme Court justice.
What Alito said next
Alito did not put a retirement date on the record. His statement leaves the court with the same lineup and closes the immediate opening that had fed the retirement talk, while preserving the basic fact that he says he will continue serving for another term.
