(Bloomberg) -- President Joe Biden and Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer will announce Breyer’s retirement on Thursday, according to a person familiar with the matter, clearing the way for Biden’s first nomination to the nation’s highest court.
The timing of the announcement is uncertain. Biden’s public schedule for Thursday doesn’t show any Supreme Court-related events, and he and White House officials have said it’s up to Breyer to decide when and how he announces his retirement.
Breyer has not yet said anything publicly about his plans. News organizations reported Wednesday that he would retire, and a number of senators issued press releases applauding the justice for his service. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the Senate would move quickly to replace Breyer with Biden’s nominee.
Biden has said he’ll appoint the first Black woman to the court. Leading contenders include Appeals Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson of the D.C. Circuit, California Supreme Court Justice Leondra Kruger and U.S. District Judge Michelle Childs.
(Updates with additional background beginning in third paragraph)
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