Washington – The Supreme Court ended its term today with no retirement announcements from any justices.
A retirement could come later, however, in a letter to the president or press release.
In court, Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist struggled to talk and thanked court employees for their work over the past year before he adjourned the term.
Justices ruled in several major cases, including Ten Commandments appeals from Texas and Kentucky and a case involving illegal online swapping of songs and movies.
Rehnquist, 80, handled one of the Ten Commandment cases and had to clear his throat several times. He breathed heavily and kept the announcement brief. The chief justice has thyroid cancer and a trachea tube to help him breathe.
Most of the retirement speculation has focused on Rehnquist, who has cancer, and Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, 75.
Hundreds of people waited for seats in the courtroom. The first people arrived at 1 a.m. and brought blankets.
