Justice Stevens To Retire From the Supreme Court
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Days before his 90th birthday, Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens announced his retirement, leaving President Barack Obama with a second opening in the nation's high court to fill.
"Having concluded that it would be in the best interests of the court to have my successor appointed and confirmed well in advance of the commencement of the court’s next term, I shall retire from regular active service as an associate justice … effective the next day after the court rises for the summer recess this year," Stevens wrote.
Stevens, the court's oldest member and leader of the its liberal bloc said that he will step down in late June or July, once the court finishes its work for the summer. Stevens is hopeful that the opening he leaves behind will be filled well before the commencement of the court's next term.
Senate Democrats, which hold a 59-vote majority, while now have ample time to hold confirmation hearings and a vote before the next term for the high court begins in October. Republicans have not said if they will attempt to delay the confirmation of a successor.
Stevens has traditionally sided with the court's liberal bloc in contentious cases, such as those involving abortion, criminal law, church-state relations and civil rights.
The speculation of Stevens ending his run as a Supreme Court Justice, which began when President Gerald Ford nominated him for the position in 1975, has been going on for several months.
“He has enriched the lives of everyone at the court through his intellect, independence, and warm grace,” Chief Justice John Roberts said.
Stevens notified President Obama with a one-paragraph letter which was addressed to “My dear Mr. President” Friday morning.
The leading candidates for the soon to be open position include Solicitor General Elena Kagan, and federal appellate Judges Merrick Garland and Diane Wood.
"Having concluded that it would be in the best interests of the court to have my successor appointed and confirmed well in advance of the commencement of the court’s next term, I shall retire from regular active service as an associate justice … effective the next day after the court rises for the summer recess this year," Stevens wrote.
Stevens, the court's oldest member and leader of the its liberal bloc said that he will step down in late June or July, once the court finishes its work for the summer. Stevens is hopeful that the opening he leaves behind will be filled well before the commencement of the court's next term.
Senate Democrats, which hold a 59-vote majority, while now have ample time to hold confirmation hearings and a vote before the next term for the high court begins in October. Republicans have not said if they will attempt to delay the confirmation of a successor.
Stevens has traditionally sided with the court's liberal bloc in contentious cases, such as those involving abortion, criminal law, church-state relations and civil rights.
The speculation of Stevens ending his run as a Supreme Court Justice, which began when President Gerald Ford nominated him for the position in 1975, has been going on for several months.
“He has enriched the lives of everyone at the court through his intellect, independence, and warm grace,” Chief Justice John Roberts said.
Stevens notified President Obama with a one-paragraph letter which was addressed to “My dear Mr. President” Friday morning.
The leading candidates for the soon to be open position include Solicitor General Elena Kagan, and federal appellate Judges Merrick Garland and Diane Wood.
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