Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor has no plans to retire despite calls from some progressives urging her to step down before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, according to sources close to her. At 70, Sotomayor remains in good health and is fully engaged in her role on the court.
As the most senior liberal voice on a conservative-majority Supreme Court, Sotomayor reportedly dismissed suggestions of stepping aside to allow President Joe Biden to nominate a successor.
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“She’s in great health, and the court needs her now more than ever,” a close associate said.
Speculation about her future comes amid concerns from Democrats about a repeat of late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s decision not to retire during President Barack Obama’s administration, a choice that ultimately allowed then-President Donald Trump to further shift the ideological balance of the court.
The biggest difference is age. Ginsburg was 80 in 2013 and Sotomayor is 70.
However, with Republicans set to take control of the Senate in January, it is unlikely there would be sufficient time to confirm a replacement.
Sotomayor, who has lived with type 1 diabetes since childhood, continues to be an active and vocal participant in the court’s proceedings. She has frequently spoken publicly about the emotional challenges of being in the minority on the court. Speaking at Harvard in May, Sotomayor admitted to moments of “deep sadness” over court decisions but emphasized the importance of resilience, saying she chooses to “get up and fight some more.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., also weighed in, calling the idea of pressuring Sotomayor to retire “not sensible” during an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
