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Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, who is 83 years old, is retiring.
This gives Joe Biden his first opportunity to fill a vacancy on the high court.
Some Democrats, such as Senator Patty Murray, is calling on Biden to choose a Black woman to be his replacement.
Breyer was appointed by former President Bill Clinton in 1994. He’s spent over two decades on the Supreme Court.
Justice Breyer is associated with the liberal side of the Supreme Court.
For example, has made decisions to uphold abortion and even voted in favor of Joe Biden’s federal vaccine mandate, which would have injected the drug into unwilling Americans.
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Breyer, who is 83, has been the subject of rampant speculation about his retirement. Liberal activists were calling for the justice to retire soon after Biden was inaugurated.
Breyer was appointed by former President Bill Clinton, a Democrat. Breyer’s replacement will need to be confirmed by the Senate, which is currently split 50-50 between Democrats and Republicans, with Democrats technically holding the majority because Vice President Harris can break ties.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Wednesday Breyer’s replacement will be “confirmed by the full United States Senate with all deliberate speed.”
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Wednesday that the White House won’t be commenting, at least for now, about Breyer stepping down.
“It has always been the decision of any Supreme Court Justice if and when they decide to retire, and how they want to announce it, and that remains the case today. We have no additional details or information to share from @WhiteHouse,” she tweeted.
During his campaign, Biden promised that he would nominate a Black woman to the Supreme Court. One potential option is D.C. Circuit Judge Kentanji Brown Jackson – a progressive favorite who Biden nominated last year.
