Supreme Court judge to retire

Justice Byron White, the senior member of the United States Supreme Court, announced his retirement yesterday, giving Bill Clinton his first shot at changing the high court's conservative bent, Reuter reports from Washington.

Mr White, 72, who was appointed in 1962 by President Kennedy, retires at the end of the court's current term, expected in June or July. Unless there is another vacancy before Mr White leaves, the opening will give Mr Clinton his first opportunity to name a Supreme Court justice.