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WASHINGTON — Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer is retiring.

The liberal justice was nominated by President Bill Clinton and has been on the court since 1994. Breyer has been under increasing pressure from progressives to retire as they feared a possible future Republican president would appoint a conservative to the High Court.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell told WHOP Radio the GOP’s decision on possible support for the next nominee will come later.

“The majority leader has indicated he will move forward with the nomination through the committee and on to the floor,” McConnell said. “We’ll take a look at who the new nominee is and decide later whether or not to support it.”

Breyer will step down this summer at the end of this term, giving Biden ample time to present a new Supreme Court nominee. It’s widely expected that President Biden will nominate a Black woman to replace Justice Breyer.

“I encourage the President to select a well-qualified nominee with an unwavering commitment to upholding the Constitution and respecting our nation’s system of checks and balances,” said Sen. Todd Young (R-IN). “I won’t support a nominee who wants to legislate from the bench, which is not the role of a Supreme Court justice.”

“The far left has been pressuring Justice Breyer to retire so President Biden could nominate someone more liberal, and based on President Biden’s alliance with the far left throughout his presidency, it is likely they will get their wish,” said Sen. Mike Braun (R-IN). “I will consider President Biden’s nominee on the basis of if he or she has demonstrated respect for our Constitution and the rights and liberties of the American people.”

Several Democratic senators have already posted letters with their top picks. Some have been pushing Biden to nominate Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson in the event of a vacancy. She was confirmed last year to the DC-based appellate court. Other names being mentioned by Democrats include Justice Leondra Kruger, who serves on the California Supreme Court.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki about whether President Biden would consider the Vice President as a Supreme Court nominee.

“For today, again, I’m just not going to be able to say anything about any specifics until Justice Breyer makes some sort of announcement,” she said.

President Biden and Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer are set to appear together at the White House today.