Grassley in no position to demand SCOTUS retirements

I understand U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, is chairman of the Judiciary Committee, but why would he think that gives him the option of telling Supreme Court justices they should immediately announce retirement because they've reached a certain age? The audacity riles my mind.

I understand the reasoning is so President Donald Trump can select another justice to the court, allowing Sen. Grassley to make certain that a conservative will fill out the court, making it one-sided. Sen. Grassley has done this before, holding up a nominee of President Barack Obama while saying the 'new” president should make the pick. With that reasoning, Sen. Grassley should wait until the next 'new” president takes office in 2020 before allowing further selections.

Also, since Sen. Grassley believes Justice Anthony Kennedy should take retirement because he's reached the age of 82, I wonder if Sen. Grassley also believes he should retire, having reached the age of 84. Seems fair to me.

Janice Carson

Cedar Rapids