OPINION:
In 1991, Associate Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall called a press conference to announce his retirement. He had served on the Supreme Court for nearly 24 years and had served the people of the United States for decades as probably the best civil rights lawyer in history.
When asked about the medical issues leading to his decision to retire, Marshall responded, “I’m old. I am getting old and coming apart.”
He had suffered for several years with health issues. He then left his audience in stunned silence. Marshall was 82.
Compared to Congress, the Supreme Court has a very good self-policing record. Very few justices have left the bench for alleged injudicious conduct, but most have left when, like Marshall, they have felt that the physical infirmity or diminished mental acuity of age was upon them or soon would be.
Ironically, Congress, which does not so subscribe, wishes to impose term limits on the Supreme Court. As with the presidency, Congress also ignores age when the incumbent is of their party.
It is painfully disconcerting and undermines confidence in the government when the demise of a public figure is played out on the public stage.
It is self-deception to cling to the illusion that by holding on to power and position, the hand of mortality can be stayed.
Whatever we have or think we own is really on loan, and that includes life itself, which must be surrendered eventually, preferably in wisdom and with dignity and grace.
HESSIE L. HARRIS
Silver Spring, Maryland
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