No More Court Vacancies for Bush

Veteran court insiders and administration officials say that there is little possibility that President Bush will be handed another Supreme Court nomination because of a retirement.

One court watcher said that none of the current members are planning to step down before January 2009, effectively ending the president's bid to bolster the conservative voice on the high court. Administration officials meanwhile said that even if a sudden opening arose, it appears unlikely that the president could push through another nominee in the current climate charged with partisanship and the 2008 presidential race.

—Paul Bedard