Washington, DC— Following reports today that Justice Stephen Breyer will retire from the U.S. Supreme Court at the end of this term, People For the American Way President Ben Jealous released the following statement:

“We owe Justice Breyer a debt of gratitude for his years of service on the Supreme Court. His legacy includes important decisions in support of abortion rights and in opposition to the death penalty and to racial bias in our criminal justice system. At the same time, we are inspired by the opportunity before us. President Biden has made it clear that he will appoint a Black woman to the Supreme Court, a step that will bring us closer to our ideals of opportunity and justice for all. We urge the president and the Senate to move quickly to nominate and confirm the first Black woman Supreme Court justice, drawing from the extraordinary pool of brilliant and qualified women scholars, jurists and attorneys that our country has to offer.”

About People For the American Way

People For the American Way is a progressive advocacy organization founded to fight right-wing extremism and build a democratic society that implements the ideals of freedom, equality, opportunity and justice for all. We encourage civic participation, defend fundamental rights, and fight to dismantle systemic barriers to equitable opportunity. Learn more: https://www.pfaw.org.