fbpx

Press

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, Jan 26, 2022

CONTACT
Christopher Vasquez, NCLR Director of Communications
cvasquez@nclrights.org | 415-365-1337

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, United States Supreme Court Associate Justice Stephen Breyer announced his intention to retire. Justice Breyer, who was appointed by President Clinton in 1994, has been a consistent supporter of women’s rights, reproductive freedoms, voter protections, and LGBTQ equality. His retirement gives President Biden a historic opportunity to name a pro-equality successor to fill the vacancy on the Court. 

A statement from NCLR Executive Director Imani Rupert-Gordon:

For 28 years, Justice Stephen Breyer has been a vocal leader and supporter of equality on the United States Supreme Court. We are grateful for his leadership in advancing voting rights and women’s rights – particularly protecting access to abortion – and creating a better world for all of us.  

This historic nomination will be one of the most defining decisions that President Biden will make. We encourage the President to appoint a nominee to fill this vacancy who has an unwavering commitment to democracy and the rule of law and who will resist the continuing erosion of our institutions. We encourage him to choose someone with a demonstrated record of supporting LGBTQ equality and racial, gender, and economic justice. We also urge him to choose a nominee who will meet this moment and uphold the highest standards of the constitution. President Biden has already committed to appointing the first Black woman to the Supreme Court, and we look forward to him fulfilling this historic commitment to appoint someone who reflects the incredible diversity of our country. 

xxx

The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) is a national legal organization committed to advancing the human and civil rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community through litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education. Since its founding, NCLR has maintained a longstanding commitment to racial and economic justice and the LGBTQ community’s most vulnerable. https://www.nclrights.org