so in 2006 Sandra Day O'Connor left the court, but today 5 years latter she's still in good health and working a number of jobs, I've heard she left because her husband had Alzheimer's before his death in 2009, what if she hadn't left?
She would probably miss not having to drive thru Washington traffic, could sleep in later in the morning, go out to the gym, gone on vacation with her husband, spent more time with her family and friends, let her hair down, attended more concerts, read stuff other than legal briefs, etc.
Heck, why wouldn't someone what to retire after such a high pressure job?
Heck, why wouldn't someone what to retire after such a high pressure job?
Her not leaving means Alito doesn't get on the court. No Alito and the conservatives don't get an easy majority. The court now has 4 liberals (Souter/Sotomayor, Stevens/Kagan, Ginsberg, Breyer), 3 conservatives (Scalia, Thomas, Roberts), and 2 moderates (O'Conner, Kennedy).
The only court the decision off the top of my head that would be different is Citizens United, where she would have voted with the liberals in favor of regulation.
The court would also likely be less pro-business.