Justice Stevens' Hiring Prompts Speculation Of Retirement

Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens -- a leading liberal voice on the court for more than three decades -- has hired fewer law clerks than usual, prompting speculation that he might retire next year, the New York Times reports. Stevens, 89, has hired just one clerk -- instead of the usual four -- for the court term beginning in October 2010 (Liptak, New York Times, 9/3).