Will the battle for the Supreme Court intensify?
Media on standby after growing reports Supreme Court Chief Justice Rehnquist is handing in his resignation ... developing on the Drudge Report.
Conservative Eyes and PowerBlog have more.
The Washington Post states, "A week after Justice Sandra Day O'Connor announced her retirement, the White House and its allies are preparing for the possibility that Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist might soon follow suit, opening up a second vacancy to fill and scrambling the politics of this summer's brewing nomination battle."
Conservative pundit Robert Novak states in his Chicago Sun-times column today, "Adding to the tension is word from court sources that ailing Chief Justice William Rehnquist also will announce his retirement before the week is over. "
A Townhall article declares, Rehnquist Is Retiring, Legal Expert Insists
President Bush is delaying his selection of a replacement for retiring Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor because he is waiting for the other shoe to drop -- the resignation of Chief Justice William Rehnquist -- according to a top legal expert and former U.S. Justice Department official.And, consider that:Walter E. Dellinger III, former acting solicitor general of the United States, told a Heritage Foundation audience Thursday that Rehnquist's retirement is a certainty.
Much of Washington is buzzing with reports the retirements will not just stop with Sandra Day O'Connor and Rehnquist, but a possible 3rd vacancy might be fast approaching. Sources indicate ailing Justice John Paul Stevens might announce his retirement after replacements are named for O'Connor and Rehnquist.This would certainly be a historic moment and an opportunity to for the President to reclaim a court filled with justices who are strict constructionists, who repsect the sanctity of human life and uphold the liberty of the individual.
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Update: The Drudge headline has changed and there are conflicting reports as to whether the Whitehouse has even been in contact with Rehnquist or not. Rumors abound based on statements from multiple sources but there is still no official word.
Redstate has written the following:
I am reliably told that details are being worked out to give the Chief Justice an appropriate send off as the head of the third branch of American government. While the official announcement may be delayed to allow time to coordinate, I think the sources are most likely right and, despite my gut feeling that we've all bought into a Novak generated feeding frenzy, I'll go with the sources, Novak, and Drudge and make it official -- but leave a question mark just to be on the safe side.
See Hyscience for more.
