Alito reiterates he’s not retiring, is committed through end of current Supreme Court term

Justice Samuel Alito says he has no plans to retire and will remain on the Supreme Court through at least the end of its current term in late June. His statement comes amid speculation that Republicans’ loss of control of the Senate could make it difficult for President Donald Trump to secure confirmation of a conservative replacement if a vacancy arises.

Alito, 76, is the court’s second-oldest justice after Clarence Thomas, who is 78. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and conservative legal expert Ed Whelan have argued that a Democratic-controlled Senate could block Trump’s judicial appointments, potentially for years; Whelan also said a retirement during the lame-duck session is unlikely and confirmation votes may be hard to secure.