Now that Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor has retired, attention seems transfixed on possible replacements. But what about other possible retirements? There are plausible scenarios in which four other justices join O'Connor in retirement during Bush's final term. With the same nine justices sitting atop the highest bench for the last eleven years, aren't we due for more than one departure?

The average retirement age for a Supreme Court justice during the 20th century was 71. Ford apointee John Paul Stevens is 85. Blogger Radley Balko shared the speculation of a court insider that David Souter, 65, misses New Hampshire and always planned to retire at 65. William Rehnquist, the longest serving justice, has cancer. At 80, he seems ready to leave the court soon--or is that just liberal wishful thinking? Ruth Bader Ginsburg is a cancer survivor. Although she has served on the court for just twelve years, she is 72. The American Spectator's Prowler notes that Supreme Court clerks report that Ginsburg's health is not good, and retirement could be sooner rather than later.

Stephen Breyer (66), Anthony Kennedy (68), and Antonin Scalia (69) make up the youth wing of the Supremes, and at 57 Justice Clarence Thomas is the only baby-boomer on the high court. Barring Divine intervention, it's unlikely that these tenderfoots will be leaving anytime too soon.

I personally think JP Stevens will die on the bench. Ginsburg and Rehnquist stepping down before the end of the year I could see.