U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas will speak on Wednesday at the University of Texas at Austin as Donald Trump raises the possibility of future vacancies on the Supreme Court.
Thomas, 77, will deliver a lecture at 3:30 p.m. at Hogg Memorial Auditorium as part of a university series marking the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence. The event comes amid ideological and institutional changes at the university, including the consolidation of several ethnic and gender studies departments and the expansion of conservative-leaning academic initiatives.
The appearance coincides with renewed speculation about potential turnover on the Supreme Court. No justice has announced plans to retire, but attention has focused on Samuel Alito, 76, the court's second-oldest member after Thomas.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump said he is prepared to nominate new justices if vacancies arise. "It's possible, in theory," he said, adding the number could range from one to three. Yet, he has not laid out specific replacement plans but told Politico he hopes both Alito and Thomas remain on the court.
"I hope they stay because I think they're fantastic," he said.
Republican leaders have signaled they would move quickly if a vacancy opens. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said lawmakers would be prepared to confirm a nominee before the midterm elections if needed. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley suggested potential nominees could include Senators Ted Cruz or Mike Lee.
Thune told the Washington Examiner: "That's a contingency I think around here you always have to be prepared for. And if that were to happen, yes, we would be prepared to confirm."
Conservative legal activists have quietly encouraged both justices to consider stepping down. However, there is no indication that either Thomas or Alito plans to do so soon. Legal observers note that Thomas's hiring of law clerks for upcoming terms suggests he intends to remain on the bench. Reports also indicate those close to Alito are uncertain about his plans, even after a recent hospitalization for dehydration.
The push to prepare for possible vacancies reflects broader Republican concerns about Senate control. The chamber's current 52-48 GOP majority could narrow further in the 2026 midterms, giving moderates like Senator Lisa Murkowski greater leverage to block nominations and complicating confirmation timelines.
If Republicans lose the Senate in 2026, a Democratic majority would likely block Trump's nominees.
The Supreme Court currently holds a 6-3 conservative majority, including three justices appointed during Trump's first term: Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett.