Reports: Justice Stephen Breyer to Retire
Will President Biden follow through on his campaign promise and nominate a Black woman to the Supreme Court?
Justice Stephen Breyer will step down from the Supreme Court, according to multiple reports.
At 83, he’s the oldest member of the Court, appointed in 1994 by President Bill Clinton. According to the New York Times, a formal announcement will be made Thursday at the White House.
Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) released a statement calling for President Joe Biden to nominate a Black woman to fill the vacancy. On the campaign trail in March 2020, Biden had pledged to nominate a Black woman to the Supreme Court.
Murray’s statement:
Justice Breyer has led an exemplary and distinguished career in public service. I’m grateful to him for all that he has done to create a more fair and just country for all Americans.
In the wake of Justice Breyer’s retirement, I want to voice my support for President Biden in his pledge to nominate the first Black woman to the Supreme Court. The Court should reflect the diversity of our country, and it is unacceptable that we have never in our nation’s history had a Black woman sit on the Supreme Court of the United States—I want to change that. There is no shortage of exceptional nominees who would serve with the judgment, qualifications, and ethical standards each Supreme Court Justice should embody—and Black women in America should be able to look at the highest court in the land and finally see themselves represented.
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Check out some of our previous Supreme Court coverage: