During an event officially announcing Justice Stephen Breyer’s retirement, President Joe Biden reaffirmed a campaign promise that his nominee for Supreme Court will be a Black woman. The video above includes clips from the event.
“That person will be the first Black woman ever nominated,” Biden vowed. “It is long overdue in my view.”
"I've made no decision except one – The person I will nominate will be someone of extraordinary qualifications, character, experience and integrity. And that person will be the first black woman ever nominated to the United States Supreme Court." – @potus
— Chris Meagher (@chrismeagher46) January 27, 2022
Federal Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, a former Breyer law clerk, and Leondra Kruger, a justice on California’s Supreme Court are rumored to be front runners in Biden’s search.
Biden said he will announce a nominee “before the end of February.” Despite the short time frame, Biden promised his nominee will be fully vetted.
“Our process is going to be rigorous,” he said.
Breyer will retire at the end of the current Supreme Court term. At 83, Breyer is the oldest justice on the bench. Breyer was nominated to serve in 1994 by President Bill Clinton. He is one of three justices on the bench nominated by a Democratic president.
“His legacy includes his work as a leading scholar and jurist and administrative law, bringing his brilliance to bear to make government run more efficiently, and effectively, and includes his beacon of wisdom on our Constitution and what it means,” Biden said.
