UPDATED: Breyer makes it official: He's leaving the Supreme Court on Thursday at noon

[BumRushDaShow]

Last edited Wed Jun 29, 2022, 02:23 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: CNN

(CNN)Justice Stephen Breyer has notified the White House that his retirement will be effective Thursday, June 30, at noon ET. In a letter to President Joe Biden, Breyer said it had been his "great honor" to participate as a judge in the "effort to maintain our Constitution and the Rule of Law." He said that Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is prepared to "take the prescribed oaths" to begin her service as the 116th member of the court.

The fact that the court will issue final opinions and orders on the same day reflects a more expedited timeline than past terms. It suggests that the justices -- who have been subject to death threats since the release of a draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade are eager for the momentous and divisive term to end as soon as possible. There are two big cases awaiting resolution concerning the environment and immigration.

Breyer, who was appointed to the court in 1994 by then-President Bill Clinton, announced his retirement plans in January. The highly anticipated decision was met with a collective sigh of relief by Democrats, who feared the possibility of losing the seat to a future Republican president should the 83-year-old jurist ignore an intense pressure campaign from the left, which urged him to leave the court while Biden had a clear path to replace him.

A consistent liberal vote on the Supreme Court with an unflappable belief in the US system of government and a pragmatic view of the law, Breyer has sought to focus the law on how it could work for the average citizen. He was no firebrand and was quick to say that the Supreme Court couldn't solve all of society's problems. He often stressed that the court shouldn't be seen as part of the political branches but recognized that certain opinions could be unpopular.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/29/politics/breyer-supreme-court/index.html

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Original article -

(CNN)Justice Stephen Breyer has notified the White House that his retirement will be effective Thursday, June 30, at noon ET.

In a letter to President Joe Biden, Breyer said it had been his "great honor" to participate as a judge in the "effort to maintain our Constitution and the Rule of Law."

He said that Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is prepared to "take the prescribed oaths" to begin her service as the 116th member of the court.

This story is breaking and will be updated.

[UT_democrat]

1. Whoa

I'm not sure a 1st term sitting president has the authority to put Judges on the scrotus.

[roamer65]

2. I wish we could put 4 more KBJ's on the court.

Stack it!

Welcome to DU, btw!

[Rebl2]

30. Same here

[Martin68]

3. Not if he's a Democrat.

[IronLionZion]

4. Better keep it vacant until 2025 to let the voters decide

[MarineCombatEngineer]

5. She's already been confirmed,

all she has to do is take the oath, which I believe that CJ Roberts will administer the same day, so, Pres. Biden isn't putting her on the bench, it will be the CJ doing that.

[obamanut2012]

9. it was a joke

[MarineCombatEngineer]

12. Sorry, my bad.

Been on the road for 2 many days, my humor meter is out of whack.

[maxsolomon]

6. INOKIYAD

It's Not OK If You're A Democrat.

[Baitball Blogger]

7. Godspeed.

[Paper Roses]

8. How will this appointment help us? Or will it? n/t

[obamanut2012]

10. Why do you think Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson won't help us???

[Bettie]

11. It will keep the court in the same place it is, instead of

7-2 decisions. We'll still have 6-3 ones.

So, it won't hurt.

[FBaggins]

17. Sure it helps

If nothing else - it locks the seat up for probably decades. Breyer is 83 and there's no guarantee that we'll control both the Senate and White House over the next few years.

She also brings a fresh perspective that is likely to better align with most DUers. Nothing wrong with Breyer, but he's something of an institutionalist (which I like, but most here don't).

[hedda_foil]

13. That should mean that the remaining 2 decisions will be announced tomorrow morning.

[llmart]

14. Doesn't look to me like Thomas is in the best of health...

just saying.

Thoughts and prayers and such...

[Bird Lady]

15. Thoughts and prayers my ass...

Die you disgusting piece of human offal.

[Lucky Luciano]

32. I think and pray for that myself!

[Sneederbunk]

24. When they say he's a sick SOB it has nothing to do with his health.

[lastlib]

25. I also send prayers his way--

"Dear God, Can't you take this POS now?? Amen."

[Polybius]

16. Hypothetically, let's say he changed his mind and stays on

Since Ketanji Brown Jackson has already been confirmed, would she go on the Supreme Court the day someone else leaves? Like let's say Thomas steps down in 2025 and we have a Republican President. Will Jackson automatically replace him?

If yes, then we could confirm 9 Justices, and the next 9 that retire would be the ones we confirmed.

[GB_RN]

19. Yes...And No.

She would fill whichever seat came open in your scenario.

However, there must be a reason to make the appointment, so we can’t just appoint and confirm at-will, waiting for vacancies.

[NotASurfer]

18. Thomas is 74. Alito is 72

Admittedly they could both hang on for another 20 years, but chronologically they're next in line and the oldest sitting justice on the Court tends to be early to mid 80s (Breyer is 83 according to Google).

It's vital to either have the Senate - preferably with a bit of a majority - or the White House for the next 15 years to make sure there's no repeat of the shenanigans around Anthony Kennedy and RBG's replacements The biggest challenge is to GOTV at every level from school board on up, and build that majority of the sane for good decisions

[GB_RN]

21. Thomas Will Pull An RBG If He Must...

So as to keep any Democrat from appointing his replacement. That might work for now, but we all know how that worked out in the end for RBG. Therefore, it is imperative we maintain the presidency and senate at least through ‘32. We have to get it through to the average voter that a vote for a GOPQer or a third-party protest vote (because you don’t like the Democrat) is a vote for more regressives on the SCOTUS.

If tRump had won, or his coup had been successful, Clarence “Uncle Slappy” Thomas probably would have retired: It’s well known he doesn’t like his job.

[TlalocW]

20. He can finally get back to the family business and his true love

Of making ice cream.

[CaptainTruth]

22. LOLOL!!!

[BumRushDaShow]

23. DUzy!

[BlueIdaho]

26. Do we have 51 reliable votes to replace him? nt.

[JohnnyRingo]

27. Now there's a good question

I know we have a couple loose cannons on deck, and we don't know for sure what direction they're pointed.
Mancian in particular strikes me as someone who might want to become a republican to assure his reelection. Opposing this pick would be quite a carnation in his boutonniere. It might still be alright if he does.

[pecosbob]

29. I think in the current climate if Manchin opposed a Dem pick he would be lynched

[BumRushDaShow]

28. ?????

[BootinUp]

31. Enjoy your retirement Justice Breyer.

And thank you for your service.

I imagine he can't wait, and I don't blame him.

[live love laugh]

33. Today's the day.

[PufPuf23]

34. Thank you for your service, Justice Breyer, kr

Need more like Breyer.

Hope Justice Breyer has time and health for a comfortable retirement.

Welcome Justice Jackson. May you live long and all prosper over your USSC tenure.

[BumRushDaShow]

35. Judge Kentanji Brown-Jackson is NOW Justice Kentanji Brown-Jackson!

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142937055