Speculation that Chief Justice William Rehnquist would resign when the Supreme Court ended its session Monday led some history-seekers to camp outside the court Sunday night in the hope they would be admitted the next morning to hear Rehnquist??¢â???¬â???¢s announcement. Rehnquist, however, did not retire that day. Or the next. Or the next.
Speculation now is he may wait until August: An announcement then is unlikely to face competition as Washington??¢â???¬â???¢s dominant news story. Also, if Rehnquist retires in late August, it could greatly shorten the time span in which liberal interest groups can beat up on whomever Bush nominates to fill the vacancy. A replacement named now would probably face at least two months of liberal harping before the first confirmation hearing.
