Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens announced his retirement Friday, and President Obama said he move swiftly to find replacement. Obama praised Stevens for his years of service to this country, and he said that he takes choosing the Supreme Court nominees as "among my most serious responsibilities as president."
Obama said that he will seek someone who has, as Stevens does "an independent mind, a record of excellence and integrity, a fierce dedication to the rule of law, and a keen understanding of how the law affects the daily lives of the American people."
Stevens, 90, announced his retirement Friday in a letter, "it is in the best interest of the Supreme Court to have a successor appointed and confirmed before the next term begins."
"My dear Mr. President," Stevens wrote. "Having concluded that it would be in the best interests of the court to have my successor appointed and confirmed well in advance of the commencement of the court's next term, I shall retire from regular active service as an associate justice ... effective the next day after the court rises for the summer recess this year."
"I hope the Senate will move quickly in the coming weeks" in finding his replacement.
See the video below for Obama’s response to Stevens’ retirement.
The state of Utah has five Supreme Court justices including Durham, Durrant, Nehring, Parrish, and Wilkens.
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Sources: CNN and CBS News
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