actually, that is not 100% accurate. Of the current justices, three are expected to retire or at least be considering it:
Rhenquist: since he has publically stated that he more or less wants to retire and that it would not happen while a democrat was president, odds are if Bush wins (which at this point seems highly likely), Rhenquist is leaving. Since he is extremely consevative (save for his surpirising vote earlier this year to uphold Miranda) Bush's appointment of a consevative justice would not shift the court's idealology.
Stevens: Liberal (more or less), and old. I think he might be the oldest on the court at this point (around 80, as I recall). He too has made it known that his time to step down is close. Whether or not he does if a republican president is in office is up for grabs.
O'Connor: Has also made her desire to retire known. Technically, O'Connor is closest to a federalist. How that plays out is that she acts as more of a swing vote and cannot typically be labeled conservative or liberal. She, along with Kennedy, have acted as the fulcrum for many of the courts closest decisions. It is hard to say, but chances are that bush, if elected will pick someone who is definitely more consevative.
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actually, that is not 100% accurate. Of the current justices, three are expected to retire or at least be considering it: Rhenquist: since he has publically stated that he more or less wants to retire and that it would not happen while a democrat was president, odds are if Bush wins (which at this point seems highly likely), Rhenquist is leaving. Since he is extremely consevative (save for his surpirising vote earlier this year to uphold Miranda) Bush's appointment of a consevative justice would not shift the court's idealology. Stevens: Liberal (more or less), and old. I think he might be the oldest on the court at this point (around 80, as I recall). He too has made it known that his time to step down is close. Whether or not he does if a republican president is in office is up for grabs. O'Connor: Has also made her desire to retire known. Technically, O'Connor is closest to a federalist. How that plays out is that she acts as more of a swing vote and cannot typically be labeled conservative or liberal. She, along with Kennedy, have acted as the fulcrum for many of the courts closest decisions. It is hard to say, but chances are that bush, if elected will pick someone who is definitely more consevative.