Biden: 'She Will Be the First Black Woman Nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court'

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer announced his retirement on Thursday, which means President Joe Biden must nominate a new candidate for the position, reports Voice of America.

Speaking at the White House on Thursday, Justice Stephen Breyer announced his retirement. The Supreme Court is a key branch of the U.S. government and has the final say on the constitutionality of actions taken by the administration, Congress, and states.

President Joe Biden, who now needs to present a new nominee for the vacant position, stated, 'The person I will nominate will be someone of extraordinary qualifications, character, experience, and integrity. And she will be the first Black woman nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court.'

The nine justices of the Supreme Court are appointed for life. Breyer was one of only three liberal justices appointed by Democratic presidents. The others were appointed by Republican presidents, three of whom were appointed during Donald Trump's four-year term.

During his eight years in office, Barack Obama appointed two justices, with Republicans blocking his third nominee. With only 50 Democratic senators in the 100-member Senate, Biden will need the votes of all of them for his nominee to be confirmed. He intends to replace Breyer ahead of the midterm elections scheduled for November.

If Republicans regain control of the Senate, the president will face a much more challenging tenure, complicating particularly the confirmation of judicial and other nominees.