President Joe BIden said today that he will choose a black woman to replace Justice Stephen Breyer on the Supreme Court, when Breyer retires this summer.
News of Breyer’s upcoming retirement was leaked to mainstream media on Wednesday, and made official by the White House on Thursday, when the president released Breyer’s letter of resignation.
Biden said today that Vice President Kamala Harris will advise him on the correct black woman to name to the Supreme Court. Two women now serving on the court are of Russian-Jewish and Puerto Rican heritage, although both Justice Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor are American-born.
Breyer has served on the court for 28 years and is now 83 years old. In an unusual move, he joined the president today in the official announcement of his retirement.
Biden said he will make his selection to replace Breyer by the end of February. It will be Biden’s first pick to the court, which had become more conservative during the Trump Administration.
The president’s choice must be confirmed by the Senate, which is now run by Democrats at a 50-50 split with Republicans. Harris has the tie-breaking vote to confirm executive and judicial appointments, which require a simple majority.
