HR Strange But True

Retirement Doesn’t Suit this SCOTUS Reporter

By Kyle Emshwiller

According to the richest man in the world, billionaire Carlos Slim, the solution for the suffering economy is the retirement age. According to Forbes, Slim urges struggling nations to increase the retirement age to 70, along with other recommendations. He notes that longer life spans, and the fact that fewer jobs require physical labor, support his view.

While some might cringe at the thought of working until the age of 70, others wouldn’t have it any other way. Take, for example, Lyle Denniston, an 81-year-old reporter covering the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS). He has been covering the Court for over 50 years—a fast-paced beat, to say the least, especially considering the recent high profile cases (healthcare reform.)

While he has tried to retire, he can’t seem to stay away, most recently coming back to report for SCOTUSblog.

Many are taking notice. There have been several news features on the veteran reporter—who is older than all of the sitting justices!

In one such interview with the The Washington Post, he admits he’s not up to speed technologically speaking.
“My wife will tell you I have no patience with computers … I throw my hands up at the slightest glitch. It took me a while to learn to use a cell phone.”  
Regardless of his lack of enthusiasm for computers, the self-proclaimed “afternoon newspaper guy” makes up for it two times over in the courtroom—often the first to report on breaking SCOTUS news, never prewriting material, but delivering fresh content to loyal blog followers.
He has also received some attention on social media. While the Court was wrapping up the term, Twitter aficionados began using #teamlyle to show their respect for the veteran reporter, who was busy reporting on activity at the Court.

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