Politics- Psaki reiterated Biden's pledge to nominate the first Black woman to the
Supreme Court . - Justice
Stephen Breyer is retiring from the Supreme Court, according to multiplenews outlets.
"It's always been the decision of any Supreme Court justice, if and when they decide to retire, how they want to announce it, and that remains the case today," Psaki said at the start of her daily press briefing. "So we're not going to have additional details."
But reporters pressed her on the topic.
"So let's say hypothetically, a Supreme Court justice was to retire and announce it on his or her own terms, does President Biden plan to honor his pledge to nominate a Black woman to the court?" Associated Press reporter Josh Boak asked.
Biden has been committed to nominating a Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court and "certainly stands by that," Psaki replied.
"For today, again, I'm just not going to be able to say anything about any specifics until of course Justice Breyer makes any announcement, should he decide to make an announcement," she added.
Hours before the briefing, multiple news outlets reported that Breyer, 83, is set to step down from the bench at the end of the current Supreme Court term this summer. Breyer and the White House are reportedly expected to make a formal announcement as early as Thursday.
Breyer, who was appointed to the bench by former President Bill Clinton, is the oldest justice and the most senior of the court's three-member liberal wing. His retirement clears the way for Biden to appoint a replacement while the Senate is still under Democratic control. Progressive groups had urged Breyer to step down before the 2022 midterm elections as Republicans could win back control of the Senate and potentially block a future Biden Supreme Court nominee.
On the 2020 campaign trail, Biden vowed to nominate the first Black woman to the nation's highest court. Possible contenders for the spot include DC Circuit Court of Appeals judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, California state Supreme Court justice Leondra Kruger, and South Carolina federal district judge J. Michelle Childs.
Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday swiftly reacted to the news of Breyer's retirement and said the Senate will act quickly to confirm a Biden nominee to the Supreme Court.
"President Biden's Supreme Court nominee will receive a prompt hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee and be considered and confirmed by the full United States Senate with all deliberate speed," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement.