Justice Breyer on Retirement and the Role of Politics at the Supreme Court

[brooklynite]

Source: New York Times

WASHINGTON — Justice Stephen G. Breyer says he is struggling to decide when to retire from the Supreme Court and is taking account of a host of factors, including who will name his successor. “There are many things that go into a retirement decision,” he said.

He recalled approvingly something Justice Antonin Scalia had told him.

“He said, ‘I don’t want somebody appointed who will just reverse everything I’ve done for the last 25 years,’” Justice Breyer said during a wide-ranging interview on Thursday. “That will inevitably be in the psychology” of his decision, he said.

“I don’t think I’m going to stay there till I die — hope not,” he said.

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/27/us/politics/justice-breyer-supreme-court-retirement.html

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I would think looking back on a successful career at age 83 wouldn't be a heay lift.

[Scrivener7]

1. Stop struggling, Steve. It's time to retire.

[GB_RN]

2. His Preferred Successor, Has Already Been Appointed...

To the DC Court of Appeals; Ketanji Brown Jackson. She replaced Merrick Garland.

[LiberalFighter]

3. What the hell! He should know that he should retire now.

[AllyCat]

4. Don't struggle. Retire. Enjoy your retirement.

[GB_RN]

5. He Could Easily Get A Professorship

At a prestigious law school and teach some up and coming, decent, politicians/lawyers. I mean, come on! FFS, this shouldn't be a difficult decision at this point. It's not like Biden's gonna appoint another Scalia...

[getagrip_already]

6. He has to know that if we lose the senate, no dem will get hearings...

It doesn't matter who is in the wh. He will not be replaced until the same party controls both.

Retire now. After next year all bets are off.

[steve2470]

7. Stephen, retire now, please....

If you retire now, at least President Biden has a chance to nominate someone excellent to SCOTUS.

If you retire after January 20, 2025, there is a chance that a Republican president would get that that ability. Hopefully Biden will run again and win, or Kamala Harris will run and win, but......who knows who would win in the current crazy environment.

[Baitball Blogger]

8. He needs to do it before the 2022 election.

It is the only safe way to ensure that he gets a replacement that will vote like him.

[GB_RN]

11. This

So, so much, this.

[hot2na]

9. Worried about "who will name your successor"?

“He said, ‘I don’t want somebody appointed who will just reverse everything I’ve done for the last 25 years,’”

Well Steve if you are not careful we could end up with Mitch McConnell picking your successor.

[mahannah]

10. Ginsburg also struggled.

[JohnSJ]

12. All this agonizing over Breyer. Where was this agonizing when it mattered in 2016, when enough

self-identified progressives decided not to vote for the Democratic nominee by either not voting, or voting for Jill Stein?

[True Blue American]

14. Be like Susan Collins

She is not struggling any more. She was out in front this time.

Brings me to another subject. Seth Moulton saying, “ We need to negotiate with the Taliban!” Seth, what do you think President Biden has been doing all along? Duh!

[JohnSJ]

17. Did Moulton actually say that? My opinion of him gets lower daily

[True Blue American]

19. Yes he did. I saw a clip.

Here he is trying to defend himself. The clip where he said that was on CNN.

https://www.boston.com/news/politics/2021/08/27/seth-moulton-defends-afghanistan-trip/

[JohnSJ]

20. Thanks

[aeromanKC]

13. Thanks for your service. Enjoy retirement!!

Untill then, I'll stress about the CA recall going sideways knowing Feinstein is 90 and Leahy with medical issues not having a D Gov. to back us up till the 22 elections all the while hoping we keep the majority through 24 election. UUhhggg.

[ripcord]

22. I'm stressed over the recall also

I have a real problem with democrats who won't get off their lazy asses to vote in anything other than a presidential election and allow this shit to happen.

[elleng]

15. Interesting he entertained this in public.

bookmarking

[BumRushDaShow]

16. I am wondering if, after all these years

he believed himself overshadowed by so many other, sometimes flamboyant Justices, that he is now getting his "due" for attention, and feels obligated to make a fuss about it.

[bluewater]

18. "I would think looking back on a successful career at age 83 wouldn't be a heavy lift"

Well put.

[mtasselin]

21. Gartland

Nominate the current attorney general, and then appoint another attorney general that is more aggressive.

[NoMoreRepugs]

23. Please do it soon Sir.

[Steelrolled]

24. Sounds like another RBG-like disaster in the making.

It's all about themselves.

[Demsrule86]

25. Judge Breyer retire before the midterms.

[malthaussen]

26. Is "Emeritus" the worst word in the world for an ambitious person? n/t

[Mysterian]

27. Ahhhhh, how nice of Dear Justice Breyer

to speak kindly of the fascist enabler Scalia. So delightful to see such comity among the justices.