Despite some calls for Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor to retire, most Democrats are declining to embrace the suggestion.
As Axios reports, progressive activists fear that, at 69 years old and set to turn 70 this June, Sotomayor’s age could lead to her replacement being appointed by Donald Trump in the event that he wins the November election. Meanwhile, other leftists consider it racist to ask Sotomayor, the first Hispanic justice on the Supreme Court, to retire early.
These concerns echo similar concerns over the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who was allegedly pressured by Barack Obama himself, among other Democrats, to retire during his second term so he could appoint an equally liberal successor. But Ginsburg refused to do so, and upon her death in 2020, she was replaced by Justice Amy Coney Barrett, nominated by President Trump and confirmed by the Republican-led Senate, thus cementing a 6-3 conservative majority on the court
In addition to her age, Sotomayor also has several health struggles that include being diabetic. In 2018, Sotomayor allegedly had to travel with a medic; paramedics were called to her home at least once the same year.
The calls for Sotomayor to step down have largely come from commentators and pundits, as well as law professors, rather than elected officials. Democrats in office have largely ignored such opinions, with a handful of exceptions.
Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) praised Sotomayor as “a highly accomplished and, obviously, fully functioning justice right now.” However, he added that “we should learn a lesson, and it’s not like there’s any mystery here about what the lesson should be.”
Other Democrats have dismissed such concerns, with Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) saying “it makes no sense to me. I think Justice Sotomayor is doing a terrific job, and I think she’ll be doing a terrific job for years to come.” Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) said that Sotomayor is “going full speed ahead.”
Democrats and the Left as a whole have felt the impact of the conservative majority on the Supreme Court. Even after President Trump left office, the 6-3 majority has made landmark rulings in favor of conservatives on such issues as abortion, affirmative action, and the Second Amendment.