Justice Samuel Alito has gone public with a vague plan to retire in the near future, according to a Law360 report summarized in Above the Law's Morning Docket. The announcement is notable for its timing and lack of detail, and the source itself casts doubt on the sincerity of the move, suggesting it may be a "last ditch bid to rally Republican midterm hopes."
Separately, the Supreme Court has opened its new Term, and a preview of the upcoming cases is now available. The two developments together frame a season in which the Court's docket and its personnel decisions are likely to draw intense political attention.
Because there is only one source, there is no independent reporting to compare. The source's tone is openly skeptical of Alito's stated reasoning, and readers should treat the retirement plan as preliminary and unconfirmed.