Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer to officially retire Thursday
Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer has announced that his retirement will be effective on Thursday after the nation’s high court issues the final opinions of its term.
In a letter to President Biden Wednesday, Breyer said his retirement will take effect at noon ET, two hours after the court issues its last two opinions before taking summer recess. The court’s next term begins on Oct. 3.
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, who was nominated by Biden and confirmed by the Senate to succeed Breyer, is “prepared to take the prescribed oaths to begin her service as the 116th member of this Court,” the outgoing justice said.
When she does, Jackson will become the first Black woman ever to serve on the Supreme Court.
Breyer, 83, announced his pending retirement in January, saying he would step down at the end of the court’s current term. “It has been my great honor to participate as a judge in the effort to maintain our Constitution and the Rule of Law,” Breyer said in his letter.
Jackson was nominated by Biden in late February and confirmed by the Senate in a 53-47 vote in April.
