Justice Samuel Alito, age 76, has directly addressed retirement speculation by confirming in an early August 2026 Wall Street Journal interview that he plans to serve at least another term on the Supreme Court, which begins in October. An erroneous NPR report in late June briefly fueled speculation of an imminent departure before being retracted, but subsequent reporting and sources close to the justice have consistently indicated he intends to continue serving into 2027, consistent with his ongoing clerk hiring and absence of health-related announcements. Any retirement announcement would create a vacancy allowing the current administration an additional appointment opportunity ahead of the November midterms, though Alito has publicly dismissed pressure tied to electoral timing. No procedural triggers, Senate dynamics, or confirmed signals point to a near-term exit as of late August.