Report: This Supreme Court Justice Considering Retirement After 2016 Election

The Supreme Court of the United States could lose its quiet conservative, Justice Clarence Thomas, after the 2016 election, the Washington Examiner reported.

Following a tumultuous year that included the legalization of same-sex marriage and the death of fellow conservative, Justice Antonin Scalia, court insiders say Thomas is contemplating his retirement.

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas (AP)

Thomas was appointed by former President George H.W. Bush and approved by the Senate after a contested confirmation involving allegations of sexual harassment. In April, the difficult period in Thomas’ career was immortalized in the film “Confirmation,” starring Carry Washington, who plays Thomas' accuser and former colleague, Anita Hill.

Court sources told the Examiner that Thomas has long considered retiring and never planned to hold his position in the country’s highest court until he died.

A Thomas retirement could greatly affect high court decisions. The court is already anticipating the change that will come when the next elected president nominates someone to replace Justice Scalia and end the current 4-4 divide.

Should Thomas choose to call it quits, a President Hillary Clinton have the opportunity to fill two formerly conservative seats in Thomas’ absence, resulting in a 6-3 liberal majority. Conservatives fear that the left could gain a 7-2 majority if Republican swing voter Justice Anthony Kennedy, 79, also retires.

If Republican candidate Donald Trump wins the November election, the slight 5-4 majority of conservatives to liberals could continue as it did prior to Scalia’s death.

The Examiner has reported in the past that if Clinton were to win the presidency, her majority liberal court could remain in power until at least until 2050.