In the next four years, up to four vacancies may arise in the US Supreme Court. Current US Chief Justice Rehnquist is sick with thyroid cancer and is likely to retire soon. Up to three more of his eight fellow Supreme Court Justices are likely to follow him into retirement.

This is an important political development. In the US, the Supreme Court is effectively the final arbiter on a variety of political issues, including abortion rights, civil rights, gay rights and states’ rights.