Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer was not “planning to announce his retirement today,” according to reports.
Fox News anchor Shannon Bream reported, “I now have multiple sources telling me that Justice Breyer was not planning to announce his retirement today.”
She added, “Only he knows that, and as we wait on the court, the longer we wait… It seems like that is a possibility. I’m told that he is ‘upset’ that the way that this is being handled was not the timeline that he had planned. We’ve reached back to him and to the court to try to get some clarification on that, and maybe in his statement, we’ll learn more.”
Fox News anchor @ShannonBream reports Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer is "upset" because he "was not planning to announce his retirement today." pic.twitter.com/U40l4wT5NN
— Mediaite (@Mediaite) January 26, 2022
NBC News reported on Wednesday Breyer has plans to retire.
President Joe Biden was later asked about the reports on Breyer’s plans to retire.
“Every justice has the right and the opportunity to decide what he or she is going to do and announce it on their own,” Biden said. “There has been no announcement from Justice Breyer. Let him make whatever statement he’s going to make, and I’ll be happy to talk about it later.”
During a Democratic presidential debate in March 2020, Biden said he would appoint the first Black woman to the court.
“It’s required that they have representation now — it’s long overdue,” Biden said.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki confirmed during a press briefing the president “has stated and reiterated his commitment to nominating a Black woman to the Supreme Court and certainly stands by that.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a statement Biden’s nominee will “receive a prompt hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee, and will be considered and confirmed by the full United States Senate with all deliberate speed.”
