President Biden To Make History As He Set To Nominates First Black Woman To Supreme Court
The United States of America president, Joe Biden, will honor his electoral promise to make an African-American woman his first nomination to the Supreme Court, the White House says.
The liberal justice, Stephen Breyer will retire at the end of the current Supreme Court term in June. This has presented an opportunity for president Biden an unforeseen opportunity to nominate his Judge to the US Supreme court.
Though Breyer’s retirement plans are yet to be officially confirmed, president Biden has already shortlisted possible candidates although Justice Breyer’s replacement would not shift the court’s current 6-3 conservative majority.
The Supreme Court plays a key role in American life and is often the final word on highly contentious laws, disputes between states and the federal government, and final appeals to stay executions.
Each of the nine judges – known as justices serves a lifetime appointment after being nominated by the president and approved by the Senate.
Only two African Americans – both men – have ever served on the court: Justice Thurgood Marshall from 1967 to 1991 and his successor Justice Clarence Thomas, who is set to become the oldest member on the bench at age 73.
Ketanji Brown Jackson, 51, a former law clerk to Mr. Breyer, is reportedly a top contender for the job.
The last Supreme Court vacancy came in 2020 when liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died at age 87. Former President Donald Trump was able to appoint her successor, Justice Amy Coney Barrett, less than two months before the US presidential election.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told a news conference, “The president has stated and reiterated his commitment to nominating a black woman to the Supreme Court and certainly stands by that.”
President Biden and Justice Breyer are to appear together at a news conference on Thursday, 27th January where the retirement will be confirmed.
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