BOSTON – Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg told law students Friday that there could be an opening on the Supreme Court soon – but she didn’t hint at who might be leaving.
Ginsburg, who spoke at New England Law’s annual “Law Day,” said the nine justices take pictures together only when a new member is added.
“We haven’t had any of those for some time, but surely we will soon,” she said.
She did not elaborate and declined to take questions from reporters at the event. Court watchers suggest that Ginsburg, 88-year-old John Paul Stevens and 69-year-old David Souter are the most likely justices to retire.
Stevens has repeatedly said he still enjoys his work and has hired law clerks for the term that begins in October.
Souter has said nothing about his plans and has not picked his law clerks.
Ginsburg, who turns 76 on Sunday, had surgery last month for pancreatic cancer and returned to the bench without missing a day of work. She was treated for colon cancer in 1999 but has said she wants to match the tenure of Justice Louis Brandeis, who served for more than two decades, until age 82.
Ginsburg was appointed in 1993 by President Clinton.