My speculation on why Breyer chose right now to announce retirement:

[rgbecker]

He just returned from the meeting where all the justices state their positions on the Mississippi abortion case. He came to realize that the Trump appointees are actually going to overturn Roe vs. Wade after it being the law for almost 50 years. He can see the writing on the wall that should the Democrats lose the Senate in November, there may be no possibility of keeping his seat a liberal voice on the court, moving the return to sanity on the bench even further into the future. A political move? You betcha.

Whadayu think?

[Angleae]

1. Sounds spot on.

[LakeArenal]

2. I think he should have done it six months ago.

[In It to Win It]

3. I think he's 83 and would like to get out of that soul sucking job and enjoy his retirement

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

[Skittles]

6. you mean, like Ginsburg did?

[In It to Win It]

10. I mean like Ginsburg didn't do

[cachukis]

4. Legacy of voice. He keeps it alive

by acquiescing to the moment.

[rgbecker]

5. Was he hoping it wasn't that bad?

Did he think they would find a middle of the road verdict? Maybe they would simply move the allowable time framework to maybe Texas's 6 week heartbeat rule? Probably the radicals are going for complete removal of the Federal Government from any say in what a pregnant women can or can't do. "State's Rights", they call it, always have. That would be enough to start anyone like Breyer thinking about how he needs to make sure to get someone to replace him that will bring the court back to the middle.

[NCjack]

7. Yes, I think your speculation is on target. Next, I hope Pres. Biden makes a public

offer to Justice Clarence Thomas -- if he will resign now, a real African-American male will be appointed to replace him on SCOTUS

[kelly1mm]

12. Is Justice Thomas not a 'real African-American male'? nt

[NCjack]

14. No, he is a fake.

[kelly1mm]

21. How so? nt

[ecstatic]

18. I think Thomas will be the next to go.

Due to old age. We'll see.

[In It to Win It]

20. I think he'll cling to that seat until he dies or until a Republican president comes along

[kskiska]

22. especially if his wife has anything to do with it.

[roamer65]

8. He doesn't want to be around after the overturn of Roe.

I think you are spot on.

If you think the polarity is bad in this country right now, wait until after the overturn.

There are going to be a large amount of state referenda in 2024 on codification of Roe v Wade into state constitutions and I expect the religious Nazis to get violent as most of them will pass easily.

[spanone]

9. K&R

[denbot]

11. K&R n/t

[brooklynite]

13. How did this vote change anything?

Was anything unexpected going to happen?

[no_hypocrisy]

15. If you're correct, then before he retires,

Breyer better have one ass-kicking dissent to the decision that overturns Roe, castigating The Court.

[ecstatic]

16. Maybe, but it's still only three liberal justices.

RBG sabotaged her legacy, unfortunately. With the 6/3 split, why are we even turning to the Supreme Court for guidance anymore? It's a joke. Not credible.

[ForgedCrank]

17. I would think

that he is making the move at the appropriate time for his country.
We all know the historical trend of mid-term elections, and that almost has to be heavy on his mind.
At his age I would also assume that he has already been thinking about retiring, and right now is the best time for everyone.

[madville]

19. Probably worried about losing the Senate this year too

Had to be a factor, couldn’t take a chance on that if he was planning on leaving in the next couple of years anyway.

[scipan]

23. Here's a possible alternative reason, a bit simpler

Or it can be both reasons.

Justice Stephen Breyer has announced that he will retire effective this June, signaling that he wants President Joe Biden to replace him—and for a Senate controlled by Democrats to confirm that replacement—before the midterm elections in November. Typically, retirements are announced at the close of the court’s term, but the January announcement appears to confirm that Breyer, who’s served on the Supreme Court for 27 years, wants to give the president ample time to select and confirm a replacement.

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2022/01/stephen-breyer-justice-retirement-supreme-court-reason.html