Retirement of Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens

Statement

Last week, Justice John Paul Stevens announced his intention to resign from the Supreme Court of the United States after spending 35 years on the bench. Justice Stevens devoted his career to our nation's judicial system, and although he and I have different judicial philosophies, I thank him for his service and wish him well.

While we do not yet know who the President will nominate to replace Justice Stevens, we know that our nation deserves a Supreme Court Justice who is committed to deciding cases based on the law, and not on personal politics or preferences. I have and will continue to urge the White House to consider as a nominee any well-qualified individual who is committed to hearing cases as an impartial umpire and enforcing the written Constitution. As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I will examine closely the eventual nominee's background, and I will work with my colleagues to fulfill the Senate's constitutional "advise and consent' responsibilities through a dignified and respectful process.

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