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Joe Biden at a press conference with Judge Stephen Breyer
Photo: Andrew Harnik/AP
Joe Biden plans to nominate a successor to outgoing Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer by the end of February.
The US President said this in a joint press appearance with Breyer.
Biden again vowed to nominate a black woman for the first time to serve on the US Supreme Court.
"I think that's long overdue," Biden said.
He has not yet made a decision on a specific candidate, but wants to announce the nomination before the end of February, the president said.
His candidate will be a person of “outstanding qualifications”.
During the election campaign, Biden had already 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.
The US President paid tribute to Breyer.
"It's a bittersweet day for me," Biden said.
"I am here today to express the nation's gratitude to Justice Stephen Breyer for his distinguished career in public service."
Breyer confirmed his plans to withdraw from the US Supreme Court by the summer.
In a letter to US President Joe Biden published by the court, Breyer said he assumes that a successor will be nominated and confirmed by the Senate by the Supreme Court's summer recess at the end of June or beginning of July.
Biden can fill a Supreme Court position for the first time
For the first time in his tenure, Democrat Biden will have the opportunity to fill one of the nine most influential seats on the court.
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.
The personnel would not change anything about the conservative majority at the court, but would still be of great political importance.
Ex-President Donald Trump and his Senate Republicans were able to place three Supreme Court justices during Trump's tenure, which is why six of the nine justices are currently considered conservative.
Breyer, the oldest of the nine sitting judges, is assigned to the liberal camp.
He appreciates the compromise, is considered a moderate mediator, but leans more to the left.
He was once nominated by Democratic President Bill Clinton.
With its decisions on particularly controversial issues such as abortion, immigration or same-sex marriages, the US Supreme Court repeatedly sets the course for society.
The nine judges are appointed for life.
Their selection is therefore a highly competitive political process.
asa/dpa
