Lobbying Starts as Groups Foresee Supreme Court Vacancy:

Interest groups on the left and the right are beginning full-scale political campaigns — including fund-raising, advertising and major research — to prepare for what many expect to be a Supreme Court vacancy in the next several weeks.

While none of the justices have said they plan to retire, any decision would traditionally be announced at the end of the court’s term in late June.

Both conservatives and liberals say the time is right for a change in at least one and perhaps two seats, given the age of several justices and the general recognition that this is President Bush’s last chance to name a justice before the presidential campaign begins in earnest. NY Times