Supreme Court Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy will stay on the bench for at least another three years, according to the New York Daily News.

The 74-year-old has told friends and family he plans to remain a member of the court through at least 2012, the remainder of President Obama's first term.

Kennedy has historically been considered a swing vote, but has recently been siding with the court's four conservative justices.

Kennedy's decision would prevent the president from replacing him with a liberal justice.