Will Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer retire from the bench?
Well, it depends. In a recent interview with CNN the 83 year old Supreme Court Justice said that he currently does not know when, if he will retire.
Supreme Court justices are meant to serve for life. However, the law allows for any Justice to retire after serving for 15 years and reaching the age of 65.
The Daily Caller reported, He gave two reasons that would contribute to an eventual decision: “Primarily, of course, health,” Breyer said. “Second, the court.”
Liberals have urged Breyer to step down at the end of the court’s current term so that President Joe Biden can name a younger, liberal justice to the bench while Democrats hold a Senate majority. But Breyer told CNN that he was happy as the court’s highest-ranking liberal, saying that it had “made a difference” to him.
Retiring only for the partisan goal of allowing Joe Biden to install a younger, liberal minded Justice to the court would defeat the purpose of the court.
Justices are meant to be bipartisan and impartial interpreters of the constitution. Making moves like this would only politicize the court, and make it another area for politicians to attempt to control.
Breyer however said that this does not matter to him. He also warned against packing the court. He said that adding justices for partisan reasons would only erode the trust that Americans have in it further.