Stephen Breyer news - latest: Biden stands by Black woman justice pledge as party outlines one month timetable

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President Joe Biden speaks to reporters about Judge Breyer retiring

Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer is expected to announce his retirement as soon as Thursday, NBC News reported. This gives President Joe Biden an opportunity to replace one of the court’s three Democrat appointees and bolster the court’s liberal wing.

Democrats hoped Mr Breyer, who is 83 years old, would retire while they hold the majority in the Senate before the 2022 midterm elections, since Republicans are expected to win the majority.

In response to shouted questions from the press, President Joe Biden said: “Every justice has the right to decide what he or she is going to do and announce it on their own... There has been no announcement from Justice Breyer. Let him make whatever statement he’s going to make and I’ll be happy to talk about later.”

The White House says the president will stick by his commitment to nominate a Black woman to the court, and Senate Majority Leader Schumer will seek a quick one-month turnaround on the appointment.

[26 January 2022 20:44 · Oliver O'Connell]

Senator Collins open to working with Democrats to replace Breyer

Senator Susan Collins of Maine has signaled an openness to working with Democrats to replace Justice Stephen Breyer.

Senator Collins says she spoke today with Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin about the potential confirmation process.

“Justice Breyer has had a distinguished career, including his many years on the Supreme Court. I am grateful for his integrity, devotion to the Judiciary, and exceptional commitment to public service,” she said.

[26 January 2022 20:40 · Oliver O'Connell]

Grassley waiting to hear from Breyer directly

Senator Chuck Grassley, the Republican ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is being a little more hesitant to most, but notes he holds Justice Breyer in high regard.

[26 January 2022 20:31 · Oliver O'Connell]

[26 January 2022 20:24 · Oliver O'Connell]

Cornyn says he hopes Biden will not cave to ‘radical left'

Republican Senator and Senate Judiciary Committee member John Cornyn of Texas says: ”There will be immense pressure from the radical left to replace Justice Breyer with a partisan who will legislate from the bench, and I hope President Biden will not cave to their demands the way he has on nearly everything else over the past year.”

He continues: “President Biden should honor the legacy of Justice Breyer and nominate another experienced jurist who respects the current structure and limited role of the Supreme Court.”

“Whoever the President nominates will be treated fairly and with the dignity and respect someone of his or her calibre deserves, something not afforded to Justice Kavanaugh and other Republican nominees in the past.”

[26 January 2022 20:20 · Oliver O'Connell]

Psaki: Biden will stand by pledge

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said President Joe Biden will fulfill his campaign pledge to nominate a Black woman to the Supreme Court amid reports that Justice Stephen Breyer will retire.

Eric Garcia reports.

[26 January 2022 20:09 · Oliver O'Connell]

Voices: Breyer accepted what RBG couldn’t — time for Biden to keep his promise

Michael Arceneaux writes that the president said he’d put the first Black woman on the Court during his candidacy. Considering his recent failure on voting rights, it’s important to remind him of that now.

[26 January 2022 20:02 · Oliver O'Connell]

[26 January 2022 19:58 · Oliver O'Connell]

Dick Durbin looks forward to moving Biden nominee through committee

Senator Dick Durbin, the Democrat’s majority whip and chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, thanks Justice Breyer for his service and “first-rate legal mind”.

He adds that with the upcoming vacancy “President Biden has the opportunity to nominate someone who will bring diversity, experience, and an evenhanded approach to the administration of justice. I look forward to moving the President’s nominee expeditiously through the Committee.”

[26 January 2022 19:54 · Oliver O'Connell]

Who is on Biden’s Supreme Court shortlist?

President Joe Biden has repeatedly vowed that if a vacancy on the Supreme Court were to arise during his presidency, he would name the first Black woman justice.

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, who was appointed to the influential US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit by Mr Biden, is considered to be a top contender for the Supreme Court.

Ms Jackson was confirmed to the DC court in June with support from three Republicans, and previously clerked for Justice Breyer. She was once a public defender and served as vice chair of the US Sentencing Commission from 2010 to 2014.

Another possible top contender is California Supreme Court Justice Leondra Kruger who once clerked for Justice Paul Stevens. Ms Kruger was a Justice Department lawyer and at one point was acting principal deputy solicitor general.

[26 January 2022 19:42 · Oliver O'Connell]

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki says at today’s briefing: “The President has stated and reiterated his commitment to nominating a Black woman to the Supreme Court, and certainly stands by that.”