During the September 1863 Battle of Chickamauga, Union General George Thomas doggedly held his ground and covered the federal retreat. For that act of heroism amid a Confederate rout, Thomas earned the nickname “The Rock of Chickamauga.”
Such rearguard actions, of course, become necessary only when one expects defeat.
According toUSA Today, legal observers have begun to speculate that conservative Supreme Court JusticeSamuel Alitomight perform a rearguard action of his own by stepping down from the high court before the 2026 midterm elections, thereby affording Republicans an opportunity to replace him while they still control the Senate.
Georgetown University law professor Steve Vladeck, for instance, noted the October publication date for Alito’s forthcoming book, which Vladeck called “a pretty big tell since one can’t exactly go on a book tour during the first argument session of the term.”
Likewise, New York University law professor Melissa Murray, co-host of the “Strict Scrutiny” podcast, observed that Alito has spent 20 years on the Supreme Court, and she called that “usually a very good milestone on which to retire.”
Naturally, that kind of speculation has us wondering about Alito’s next move.
In other words, will the reliably conservative 75-year-old justice continue serving on the Supreme Court beyond 2026? Or, will he follow General Thomas’ example and provide cover in case the anticipated GOP midterm retreat materializes?
The dilemma, of course, is as follows: assuming Republicans lose the Senate in 2026 — not a foregone conclusion but certainly a possibility — PresidentDonald Trumpwould not be able to secure confirmation of a truly conservative Supreme Court nominee in 2027 and beyond. Should a vacancy arise, therefore, Trump would have to nominate a comparative moderate to win confirmation in a Democrat-controlled Senate.
On the other hand, the president has a mixed record anyway when it comes to Supreme Court nominations. JusticeNeil Gorsuch, of course, has proven largely reliable to conservatives. But JusticeBrett Kavanaugh, and especially JusticeAmy Coney Barrett, have too often voted with the liberal minority.
Thus, would we really want the conservative superstar Alito to retirejust in caseRepublicans lose the Senate? And do we have any assurances that Trump, however well intended, would nominate a younger version of Alito? What if we get another Kavanaugh or Coney Barrett?
Source: VidNews » Feed
