Breyer to retire, NEA thanks him for steadfast service to students, educators

WASHINGTON — Justice Stephen G. Breyer will retire from the U.S. Supreme Court, according to news reports. President Biden is expected to formally announce the retirement at the White House on Thursday.

The following statement can be attributed to NEA President Becky Pringle:

“Our students and educators are better off because of Justice Breyer’s 27 years on the Supreme Court. Justice Breyer consistently upheld the Constitution and applied it to protect public education as ‘the nursery of our democracy.’

“With the current moment — when educators and schools are being attacked, when libraries are being forced to ban books, when gag orders are issued to educators, and when bounties are placed on the heads of teachers for just doing their jobs — the makeup of the Supreme Court is vital and matters for the direction of this country. Justice Breyer was a consistent critic of the current majority’s judicial activism and its attempt to turn back the clock on constitutional rights that would allow this country to realize the vision of a more perfect union for all.

“From chairing NEA’s Read Across America program to get kids excited about reading to issuing thoughtful decisions that allowed this country to get closer to the poetry of its Constitution, I thank Justice Breyer for his public service. The National Education Association and our members stand ready to support President Biden’s continuing effort to make sure our courts reflect the best of America. We will vigorously advocate for a Justice who brings much-needed diversity to the Supreme Court.”

Follow on Twitter at @NEAmedia and @BeckyPringle

# # #

The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing more than 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, students preparing to become teachers, healthcare workers, and public employees. Learn more at www.nea.org.