Why is Stephen Breyer retiring from the Supreme Court?
STEPHEN Breyer is an American lawyer and jurist who has served on the Supreme Court since 1994.
Breyer announced his retirement in January 2022 and will officially step down from his role on July 30.
Why is Stephen Breyer retiring from the Supreme Court?
Stephen Breyer was nominated by former President Bill Clinton and has been a member of the Supreme Court since the 1990s.
He announced he would be retiring from his position in 2022 and President Joe Biden was responsible for appointing his replacement.
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson was approved by Biden to take over Breyer's position on the Supreme Court and he said she is ready to “take the prescribed oaths” to begin her service as the 116th member of the court.
In June of 2021, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called for Breyer to resign from his position.
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She at the time that she is "inclined to say yes" as to whether Breyer should retire from the Supreme Court.
He officially confirmed he is retiring at noon on July 30 after serving 28 years on the Supreme Court.
Breyer's letter to President Joe Biden confirming his retirement said, “It has been my great honor to participate as a judge in the effort to maintain our Constitution and the rule of law."
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Who is Stephen Breyer?
Born on August 15, 1938, Stephen Breyer is a longtime Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.
Breyer went from Stanford University to the University of Oxford as a Marshall Scholar, graduating from Harvard Law School in 1964.
He served as a clerk to Associate Justice Arthur Goldberg following his graduation, before becoming a professor and lecturer at Harvard Law School in 1967.
Prior to his nomination to the Supreme Court, Breyer served as a special assistant to the United States Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust as well as the assistant special prosecutor on the Watergate Special Prosecution Force.
Between 1980 and 1994, Breyer served on the First Circuit Court of Appeals.
When was Stephen Breyer nominated to the Supreme Court?
Former President Bill Clinton first considered Breyer for the Supreme Court in 1993 when Byron White's seat was made available, but the spot was instead given to Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
The following year, however, Harry Blackmun retired and Clinton nominated Breyer.
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On July 29, 1994, Breyer was confirmed by the Senate and received his commission days later on August 3.
Stephen Breyer is 83 years old at the time of his retirement in 2022.