Supreme Court ends term with no retirements

The Supreme Court adjourned on Wednesday without announcing the retirement of any justices.  

Chief Justice John Roberts adjourned the court for the summer following months of heavy speculation that the court’s swing voter, Anthony Kennedy, was planning to step down. 

Retirement announcements have sometimes happened in the days following the final day of the court’s term. 

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Justice Sandra Day O’Connor sent a letter to the White House on July 1, 2005, four days after the term ended, notifying the president of her plans to retire upon the confirmation of her replacement.

But the lack of an announcement on Wednesday will likely quiet talk about a possible retirement for the time being.

While the rumors largely centered on Kennedy, some had also thought Justice Clarence Thomas was also considering calling it quits.

Republicans on Capitol Hill had practically been urging a justice to retire, some even announced definitely one was coming.

“Kennedy will retire sometime around early summer,” Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.), who is facing a tough reelection race, announced in a speech in March, according to a Politico report.

A retirement would give President Trump his second vacancy on the court to fill and, if one is coming, the Senate’s GOP majority wants time to confirm a new justice before the midterm elections.

“If you’re thinking about quitting this year, do it yesterday,” Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said in a public message to the justices in May.

–This report was updated at 11:23 a.m.

Read more from The Hill:

Retirement speculation shadows court’s final day