The appointment of justices without term limits or a mandatory retirement age historically has helped to insulate the court from politics, said Dennis Hutchinson, a Supreme Court specialist at the University of Chicago Law School. At the same time, that can have the unintended consequence of allowing some justices to serve beyond their most effective years.
People older than 65 were among those most likely to favor mandatory retirement, according to the poll conducted for the AP by Ipsos-Public Affairs.
The question on retirement mentioned no specific retirement age. Lifetime appointment of Supreme Court justices is dictated by the Constitution and could be changed only by an amendment.
''The justices hold office year after year," said Opal Bristow, 84, a Democrat and retired teacher who lives near San Antonio. ''Some of them are old codgers who need to get out of the way and let the younger folks with fresh ideas come in."
Over the years, justices frequently have served into their 70s and 80s and have died in office. In the past few decades, it has become more common for justices to resign in the face of serious illnesses.
If President Bush has to nominate a replacement for any of the nine justices, the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that allowed legal abortions in the first three months of pregnancy is certain to be a central issue.
The survey found that 59 percent of respondents said they favor choosing a nominee who would uphold Roe v. Wade, while 31 percent wanted a nominee who would overturn the ruling.
While the public is generally divided on the abortion issue, polling consistently has found a clear majority of people who think abortion should be legal in at least some cases.
The preference for Supreme Court nominees who would uphold Roe v. Wade could be found among both men and women, most age groups, most income groups, and people living in urban, suburban, and rural areas. Fewer than half of Republicans, evangelicals, and those older than 65 said they favor a nominee who would uphold the abortion ruling.
