The Next President - And The Supreme Court

  The Supreme Court has taken a back seat pertty much this election - what with the economy in a tailspin, health care crisis, war in Iraq and just about anything else.

  But the next president could very well nominate one-third of the judges to the nation's highest court. And it is that court that will deal with issues like gay rights, abortion, school prayer: take your pick.

  Quote: Many court watchers think any vacancy in the high court over the next four years would probably involve three left-leaning justices. John Paul Stevens is 88, but appears to be in good health, and court sources say he has no intention of retiring. Ruth Bader Ginsburg is 75 and has had past health problems, but she too has told friends she enjoys serving on the court. And David Souter, who turned 69 last month, has made no secret of his disdain of the Washington life and would be happier in his New Hampshire homestead. But his colleagues and friends say that while he is an extremely private man who does not reveal much personally, he has given no indication of leaving the bench anytime soon.

"The importance of the speculation is that all three of them are on the court's list of possible retirements," Goldstein said. "Nobody on the right is really thinking of leaving."