United States Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer has formally announced his retirement. On Thursday, the 83-year-old Supreme Court member shared a letter with President Joe Biden before delivering public remarks later in the day.
“I am writing to tell you that I have decided to retire from regular active judicial service as an Associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, and tp serve under the provisions of 28 U. S. C. 371(b). I intend this decision to take effect when the Court rises for the summer recess this year (typically late June or early July) assuming that by then my successor has been nominated and confirmed,” he wrote.
“I enormously appreciate the privilege of serving as part of the federal judicial system – nearly 14 years as a Court of Appeals Judge and nearly 28 years as a Member of the Supreme Court. I have found the work challenging and meaningful. My relations with each of my colleagues have been warm and friendly. Throughout, I have been aware of the great honor of participating as a judge in the effort to maintain our Constitution and the rule of law.”
President Joe Biden has indicated who he will pick to replace Breyer. However, he has repeatedly stated that he plans to nominate a Black woman to fill the seat. Names such as Sherrilyn Ifill and Ketanji Brown Jackson have come up in public discussion, but it does not appear that a nominee will be announced before February.
