He hired law clerks, which he would not have done if he was planning to retire. SOCTUS justices usually step down effective upon confirmation of their replacement.

Something has made him change his mind and move quickly. I have two theories, one of which seems improbable. The other is that Kennedy is seriously ill.

or might not. This year, for the first time in his tenure as the "swing vote" (i.e. since O'Connor retired), Kennedy didn't side with the liberal wing in a single 5-4 decision (19 total, 15 decided in the conservative way, 4 the liberal way). All 5-4 decisions where he was in the majority, he did so on the conservative side.

The analyst noted it in the context of saying that compared to his other years on the court, Kennedy wasn't a driving force and seemed to be taking a back seat or phoning it in. He doesn't even need to be terminally ill, maybe he's just losing his edge in either energy or wits and doesn't want to struggle with that in the public venue that is SCOTUS.

With a hardcore fascist replacement, they'll take up Cases Kennedy might not have wanted decided.

investigation through Donald Trump, Jr.

He probably doesn't want to be on that bench when Trump sets the Constitutional Crisis in play. Remember, Trump is going to pardon himself, and that will need to make it through the higher court.

In several words, "no, what legacy?"

If he has a medical problem! That would be totally different situation.

Kennedy blew up his legacy when he let the Fed Soc billionaire funded right wing group cozy up to him.
Kennedy’s son is a Fed Soc higher up.
And Kennedy’s kids are tight with Don Jr and Ivanka.

Kennedy has attended events at the Trump White House with his son.


Kennedy is nothing but a GOP partisan. And now he’s demonstrating that.

I wonder why.

I could understand him not wanting to go another 2yrs if Dems do not win a majority in Nov but he could have at least waited until after the midterms to announce.

There is no way republicans do as Schumer civilly asked and wait until after mid terms to nominate. They are going to move as fast as they can to get this done. As for his legacy on decisions that upheld or set precedent for progressive issues mentioned above they are going to be slowly over turned one by one.

With a conservative record. Put in place by a conservative.

And he steps down at 81 with a Republican President.

Kennedy is being painted, by us, as someone he is not.