United States: Progressive Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer to step down

Justice Stephen Breyer at the Supreme Court in Washington, DC, April 23, 2021. Erin Schaff POOL/AFP

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Judge Breyer will leave the Supreme Court, the highest judicial authority in the United States, before the midterm elections.

This offers President Joe Biden the opportunity to appoint a like-minded judge.

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With our correspondent in Washington, 

At 83, Stephen Breyer has served on the United States Supreme Court for almost 28 years.

He had often said that he had no intention of ending his days there.

If he decides to leave now, it is no coincidence: he will leave before the mid-term elections.

It is the Republicans who are the favorites for this election and if they won the majority in the Senate, they have already said that they would block the nomination of a progressive as they did under the presidency of Barack Obama. .

Progressives have been in the minority on the Court, three to six Conservatives, since Donald Trump appointed three judges during his term.

The next judge will therefore not change this majority, which has already begun a clear

on subjects such as abortion or gun control.

► To read also: United States: Supreme Court justices under fire from critics

A black judge

But for Joe Biden, it is still an opportunity to solidify the progressive camp and for a long time, because the judges are appointed for life, choosing a replacement or rather a replacement.

Because he's said it before and the White House is repeating it, he wants to appoint a woman, and a black woman.

This would be a first in the Court's history.

Beyond the symbol, it is also a political message.

Joe Biden was elected with the support of the African-American community.

A community disappointed with the recent failure of laws to guarantee access to the vote and that the Democratic camp must reassure before the next elections. 

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