Supreme Court: Liberal Justice Stephen Breyer appears set to retire

Enlarge image

Stephen Breyer

Photo: Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP

Judge Stephen Breyer apparently wants to vacate his post at the US Supreme Court ahead of time and thus make room for a new seat on the politically contested Supreme Court. The US television channels NBC and CNN reported on Wednesday, citing Breyer's environment, the 83-year-old have decided to retire at the end of the current court year in June.

This would give US President Joe Biden the opportunity to fill one of the nine most influential seats on the court before the midterm elections in Congress in November.

During the election campaign, Biden had promised that if the president were vacant, he would nominate a black woman for the first time in US history as a judge on the Supreme Court.

CNN reported that a public announcement could be expected as early as Thursday – along with Biden.

The White House responded promptly to the reports.

Spokeswoman Jen Psaki wrote on Twitter that it has always been the decision of each Supreme Court judge whether and when to retire and how to announce it.

That also applies today.

The White House has no further details or information.

With its decisions on particularly controversial issues such as abortion, immigration or same-sex marriages, the US Supreme Court repeatedly sets the course for American society.

The nine judges are appointed for life.

Their selection is a highly competitive political process.

Ex-President Donald Trump and his Senate Republicans were able to place three judges on the Supreme Court during Trump's tenure, which is why six of the nine judges are currently considered conservative.

Breyer - currently the oldest of the nine judges - is attributed to the liberal camp.

as/dpa