Alito commits to current term as retirement debate returns

Democrats’ midterm victories and their coming Senate majority have renewed attention on whether Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas will retire, though the available accounts do not establish that either plans to leave the court soon. Alito said he would remain on the court through the current term, which began in October and is scheduled to end in late June. In an October interview, he also said he was firmly opposed to retiring during the congressional lame-duck period, while acknowledging that he considers retirement each term. Thomas has made no public indication that he intends to step down, according to Reuters. The news agency said neither justice immediately responded to its questions about retirement. CNN, citing multiple anonymous sources close to the justices, reported that they did not expect either man to leave because of the election results. That account was not an on-record statement from either justice. Democrats are scheduled to take control of the Senate on January 3. Until then, Republicans retain their majority during the lame-duck session, but no effort to confirm a Supreme Court nominee in that period has been indicated. The Senate...