Justice Stephen Breyer Stepping Down

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1) Justice Stephen Breyer Stepping Down

The Topline: On Wednesday, it was reported that Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer would be retiring.

Quote Of The Day: “I’m looking forward to making sure there’s a black woman on the Supreme Court.”

– President Joe Biden, February 2020

BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images

Justice Breyer

NBC News first reported that Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer is going to retire at the end of the current term, which is in June. President Joe Biden briefly commented on the news, but said people should wait for Breyer to make a statement.

Breyer is one of three remaining liberal justices, and his decision to retire after more than 27 years on the Supreme Court will allow Biden to appoint a successor.

The Democrat president will likely replace the liberal Supreme Court justice with another liberal justice.

What Happens Now

With a split Senate, President Biden could look to nominate a moderate liberal justice in an attempt to receive the bipartisan support necessary to confirm a justice.

However, the President already laid the groundwork for identity politics to play a role during his campaign, saying he would nominate a black woman if the opportunity presented itself. Some also say that Vice President Kamala Harris could be Biden’s Supreme Court pick, though it appears unlikely at the moment. 

This is another potentially divisive obstacle the Biden administration must face during a midterm election year, amidst already low approval numbers, historic rates of inflation, and continued foreign policy challenges.

The timing of Breyer’s retirement is potentially political, given that he’s retiring under a Democrat president.

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2) Human Rights Organizations Condemn Harsh COVID Policies

The Topline: Several nations’ COVID restrictions against unvaccinated people have drawn condemnation from human rights organizations.

Italy

Prime Minister Mario Draghi recently made Italy’s restrictive COVID policies much stricter, issuing a vaccine mandate for everyone over the age of 50. He’s also ordered that, from now until June 15, unvaccinated Italians can’t use public transportation, and people over 50 cannot go to work, if they can’t prove they have been vaccinated – even if they wear a mask and show a negative COVID test. He also denied access to anything but the most basic necessities to those without a “super green pass,” which means the individual has had three COVID shots. 

In response, Amnesty International Italia issued a statement raising serious alarm over the move. While the statement upholds the right of limited mandates, it says, “states should focus on increasing voluntary vaccine adherence” and calls on the government to let unvaccinated people work or use public transportation “without discrimination.”

The statement reads in part: “The government must continue to ensure that the entire population can enjoy its fundamental rights, such as the right to education, work, and medical treatment … [They] should not be penalized.”

The group said the government must also guarantee the right to peacefully protest against COVID-19 policies without taking “any act of unjustified aggression or violence.”

Other Countries

In Ghana, the Health Ministry considered instituting a system of vaccine passports to access public accommodations. 

The chapter of the International Human Rights Commission that oversees the country responded, saying, “Vaccination should be by choice and not by force. … [W]e think that it is advisable for the government to allow ordinary Ghanaians to decide, rather than imposing it on them.” 

Human Rights Watch condemned Cambodia for requiring everyone from age 6 and up to show proof of vaccination to enter virtually any public or private accommodation, including grocery markets. However, the group says the government didn’t educate the public about the rules. 

Eight human rights groups, including Amnesty International, signed a statement last May accusing the Cambodian government of using COVID-19 measures to quash independent journalism. 

Some international observers warn that the restrictions can pose a threat to democracy. 

Human Rights Watch condemned the military government of Myanmar, where the military overthrew the democratically-elected National League for Democracy last year. It then charged the leader of that party, Aung San Suu Kyi, with several infractions, including breaking COVID restrictions during her campaign events.

OLIVIER DOULIERY / Contributor / AFP via Getty Images

3) Supreme Court To Hear Affirmative Action Cases

The Topline: On Monday, the Supreme Court agreed to hear two cases relating to the