President Biden said he will make his choice for a Supreme Court nominee to replace Breyer before the end of February
President Biden and Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer are holding an event at the White House to mark the justice’s retirement.
“I’m here today to express the nation’s gratitude to Justice Stephen Breyer for his remarkable career in public service and his clear-eyed commitment to making our country’s laws work for its people,” Biden said.
Ahead of the gathering, Breyer wrote a letter to Biden informing him of his intent to retire from the court.
Breyer’s retirement gives Biden the opportunity to nominate his first Supreme Court justice and reinforce the high court’s liberal minority. The nomination will be one of the most consequential choices of Biden’s presidency and may offer him a political lifeline ahead of the 2022 midterm elections.
Breyer informed Biden of his decision to retire last week, two sources familiar with the conversation told CNN. Breyer, who is 83, has faced intense pressure from the left to retire while Democrats have a clear path to confirm his replacement.
Biden’s pick to replace Breyer is expected be a younger liberal judge who could serve on the court for decades. The confirmation would not alter the Supreme Court’s ideological balance — the court has six conservative justices appointed by Republican presidents and three liberals appointed by Democrats.
Biden has vowed to nominate the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court.
