Wait a minute, was Kennedy hiring law clerks in January a fake-out or

[no_hypocrisy]

did Trump get him to retire early?

http://thehill.com/regulation/367950-ginsburg-kennedy-hire-law-clerks-for-future-supreme-court-terms

Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Anthony Kennedy have already hired multiple law clerks for future terms, sending strong signals they're not going anywhere anytime soon.

Ginsburg, affectionately known by her fans as the “Notorious RBG,” has already hired four clerks for the October 2018 term and four clerks for the October 2019 term, which ends in June 2020, according to CNN. The news hints that Ginsburg is planning to stay on for the coinciding terms.

Meanwhile, Kennedy’s recent law clerk hires are also telling.

According to Above the Law, which first reported the law clerk news, he’s selected four clerks for the October 2018 term. The news may signal the court’s usual swing vote isn’t planning to retire at the end of the current term as rumored.

[OhioBlue]

1. good question. My guess is that he was pressured.

[Cracklin Charlie]

6. I was thinking blackmail.

But that’s just me.

[LenaBaby61]

10. Yeah, the more I think about it ....

Something's beginning to smell really 🐟 about Kennedy retiring just like that.

Especially because he just got several new law clerks 🤔

[oberliner]

11. There is nothing fishy about it

He has been talking about retiring for a while.

[unblock]

2. I think he was going to stick it out but mcturtle told him they're going to lose the senate

And Kennedy didn't want to leave his seat in the hands of a democratic senate

[DetroitLegalBeagle]

3. Could be a fake out

Or it could be Kennedy wasn't sure of his plans till recently. Only he knows. Hiring clerks has never been a sure fire prediction. Due to the fact that being a clerk is highly sought after and that the other Justices typically take on "orphaned" clerks, he may just have found some he liked and still wanted to give the opportunity to despite planning to ultimately retire. Also, he technically isn't fully retired, he goes to Senior Status, so he still retains a clerk and still can hear cases at the lower levels. He basically becomes a reserve judge.

[Jersey Devil]

9. yep, that's how I got to be a law clerk

I was hired in June by a judge who retired in August and wound up clerking for a new judge.

[njhoneybadger]

4. Mcturtle is smart and knows the best move is to lock up a win right now.

I hate the mutherfucker but he plays a good game,he plays to win and we play to lose.
God damn it we need some fucking fighters in congress instead of these milquetoast timid play it safe wimps.

[Autumn]

5. Keep an eye on what his kids do. There's the answer on

why he decided to retire now.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100210799686

[oberliner]

7. Neither

Standard practice.

[onenote]

8. Yep.