Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer to Retire Thursday: ‘It Has Been My Great Honor’

BREAKING STORY: Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer announced he would step down from his position on the high Court — effective this Thursday at noon.

Breyer, who has often taken liberal positions, was nominated by President Bill Clinton, replacing retiring Justice Harry Blackmun.

In January, Breyer notified President Biden of his intent to retire at the end of the current term. The term ends in July with final opinions expected to be issued by the Court on Thursday morning.

Fox News notes that Breyer wrote:

The Court has announced that tomorrow, beginning at 10 a.m., it will hand down all remaining opinions ready during this term. Accordingly, my retirement from active service under the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 371(b) will be effective on Thursday, June 30, 2022, at noon.

The Fox report adds that the statute referenced in Breyer’s letter “allows justices to retain their title but step down from active duty and continue to collect a salary if they reach a certain age and serve for a designated number of years.”

Breyer, 83, meets that criteria. 

Breyer concluded his letter: “It has been my great honor to participate as a judge in the effort to maintain our Constitution and the Rule of Law.”