Statement on Justice Breyer Retirement

WASHINGTON — In response to reports that U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Stephen Breyer has made clear his intention to retire from the nation’s highest court, ACLU National Legal Director David Cole issued the following statement:

“Justice Breyer has long been a voice and a vote for civil liberties, human dignity, the right to vote, and good governance. In the best tradition of a justice, he has paid careful attention to the implications of the court’s rulings for ordinary people and for the administration of justice. From protecting abortion rights to indicting the death penalty to safeguarding free speech and civil rights, Justice Breyer has demonstrated his commitment to the Constitution’s highest ideals. Justice Breyer hasn’t always ruled for us, but he has always earned our respect.

“The next justice will help determine the course of our nation’s future, and in particular, the freedoms and rights of its people. We call on the president and the Congress to appoint a nominee who will respect and defend the Constitution, the fundamental institutions of our democracy, and the rights of the most vulnerable among us.”