When Justice Sandra Day O’Connor finally retires from serving on the U.S. Supreme Court, the high court’s center of gravity unquestionably will shift. And some other justice will become the Court’s swinger — that is, the key swing vote.

For reasons explained in my essay from last week, I don’t expect Samuel A. Alito Jr. to become the Court’s newest centrist. Indeed, the smart money is on Justice Anthony M. Kennedy to be the Court’s swing vote going forward. Justices John Paul Stevens, David H. Souter, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen G. Breyer are all seen as at least somewhat more liberal than Kennedy, while Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Justices Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas and Alito will generally line up to Kennedy’s right.

This content has been archived. It is available through our partners, LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law.

To view this content, please continue to their sites.

Not a Lexis Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Not a Bloomberg Law Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Why am I seeing this?

LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law are third party online distributors of the broad collection of current and archived versions of ALM's legal news publications. LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law customers are able to access and use ALM's content, including content from the National Law Journal, The American Lawyer, Legaltech News, The New York Law Journal, and Corporate Counsel, as well as other sources of legal information.

For questions call 1-877-256-2472 or contact us at [email protected]