Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer's plans to retire from the high court after nearly three decades on the bench are set to pave the way for a speedy confirmation process for his eventual successor.Breyer, the court's senior liberal justice, had been facing intense retirement calls from some Democrats who feared that if he didn't step down while the party controlled the White House and held a razor-thin majority in the Senate, Republicans could have eventually been the party to determine the fate of his replacement. Already, Breyer's retirement plans have prompted Senate Democrats to begin eyeing a quick confirmation process for whomever President Joe Biden nominates to replace him, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer saying on Wednesday that he will follow a similar timeline to the one that Republicans employed to confirm Amy Coney Barrett to the court in 2020, according to a source familiar with this thinking.Senate Democrats only need a simple majority of 51 votes to confirm a new justice once one is formally nominated. Currently, there are just 48 Democrats in the Senate, with two independents who caucus with the party. Should no Republicans join Democrats in voting in favor of Biden's nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris would need to cast a tie-breaking vote in order to get the nominee over the finish line.Here's a look at how long it has taken to confirm past Supreme Court justices:Amy Coney Barrett (30 days)President announces nomination: Sept. 26, 2020Senate receives nomination: Sept. 29, 2020Confirmed: Oct. 26, 2020Brett Kavanaugh (89 days)President announces nomination: July 9, 2018Senate receives nomination: July 10, 2018Confirmed: Oct. 6, 2018Neil Gorsuch (66 days)President announces nomination: Jan. 31, 2017Senate receives nomination: Feb. 1, 2017Confirmed: April 7, 2017Elena Kagan (87 days)President announces nomination: May 10, 2010Senate receives nomination: May 10, 2010Confirmed: Aug. 5, 2010Sonia Sotomayor (72 days)President announces nomination: May 26, 2009Senate receives nomination: June 1, 2009Confirmed: Aug. 6, 2009Samuel Alito (92 days)President announces nomination: Oct. 31, 2005Senate receives nomination: Nov. 10, 2005Confirmed: Jan. 31, 2006John Roberts (72 days)President announces nomination: July 19, 2005Senate receives nomination: July 29, 2005Confirmed: Sept. 29, 2005(Note: Roberts was nominated twice by Bush but in immediate succession. The first was to replace Sandra Day O'Connor, but upon the death of William Rehnquist, his initial nomination was withdrawn and resubmitted as a nomination for Chief Justice. There are 23 days between his second nomination on September 6 and his confirmation.)Stephen Breyer (77 days)President announces nomination: May 13, 1994Senate receives nomination: May 17, 1994Confirmed: July 29, 1994Ruth Bader Ginsburg (50 days)President announces nomination: June 14, 1993Senate receives nomination: June 22, 1993Confirmed: Aug. 3, 1993Clarence Thomas (106 days) President announces nomination: July 1, 1991Senate receives nomination: July 8, 1991Confirmed: Oct. 15, 1991
WASHINGTON — Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer's plans to retire from the high court after nearly three decades on the bench are set to pave the way for a speedy confirmation process for his eventual successor.
Breyer, the court's senior liberal justice, had been facing intense retirement calls from some Democrats who feared that if he didn't step down while the party controlled the White House and held a razor-thin majority in the Senate, Republicans could have eventually been the party to determine the fate of his replacement.
Already, Breyer's retirement plans have prompted Senate Democrats to begin eyeing a quick confirmation process for whomever President Joe Biden nominates to replace him, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer saying on Wednesday that he will follow a similar timeline to the one that Republicans employed to confirm Amy Coney Barrett to the court in 2020, according to a source familiar with this thinking.
Senate Democrats only need a simple majority of 51 votes to confirm a new justice once one is formally nominated. Currently, there are just 48 Democrats in the Senate, with two independents who caucus with the party. Should no Republicans join Democrats in voting in favor of Biden's nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris would need to cast a tie-breaking vote in order to get the nominee over the finish line.
Here's a look at how long it has taken to confirm past Supreme Court justices:
Amy Coney Barrett (30 days)
Fred Schilling/Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States/Getty Images
Chief Justice John G. Roberts administers the Judicial Oath to U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett on October 27, 2020 in Washington, D.C.
President announces nomination: Sept. 26, 2020
Senate receives nomination: Sept. 29, 2020
Confirmed: Oct. 26, 2020
Brett Kavanaugh (89 days)
JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images
Brett Kavanaugh (L) is sworn-in as Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court by Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy (R) before wife Ashley Estes Kavanaugh (2nd-R), daughters Margaret (2nd-L) and Elizabeth (C), and President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, D.C.
President announces nomination: July 9, 2018
Senate receives nomination: July 10, 2018
Confirmed: Oct. 6, 2018
Neil Gorsuch (66 days)
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
President announces nomination: Jan. 31, 2017
Senate receives nomination: Feb. 1, 2017
Confirmed: April 7, 2017
Elena Kagan (87 days)
J. Scott Applewhite-Pool/Getty Images
Elena Kagan (L) is sworn in as the Supreme Court’s newest member as Chief Justice John Roberts (R) administers the judicial oath, and Jeffrey Minear, counselor to the chief justice, holds the Bible at the Supreme Court Building August 7, 2010 in Washington, DC.
President announces nomination: May 10, 2010
Senate receives nomination: May 10, 2010
Confirmed: Aug. 5, 2010
Sonia Sotomayor (72 days)
PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP via Getty Images
Judge Sonia Sotomayor (L), the first Hispanic justice on the us Supreme Court, is sworn in with the Judicial Oath in the East Conference room of the Supreme Court on August 8, 2009, as the 111th Justice of the US Supreme Court by Chief Justice John Roberts (R) as her mother Celina (C) holds the Bible and her brother Juan Luis (2nd L) looks on.
President announces nomination: May 26, 2009
Senate receives nomination: June 1, 2009
Confirmed: Aug. 6, 2009
Samuel Alito (92 days)
Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Samuel Alito (L) is sworn in as Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court as his wife Martha-Ann Bomgardner holds a bible during a ceremony in the East Room at the White House February 1, 2006 in Washington, DC.
President announces nomination: Oct. 31, 2005
Senate receives nomination: Nov. 10, 2005
Confirmed: Jan. 31, 2006
John Roberts (72 days)
Win McNamee/Getty Images
President George W. Bush (L) watches as John Roberts (2nd L) is sworn in as Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court by Associate Justice John Paul Stevens (R) while Jane Roberts holds a bible during a ceremony in the East Room at the White House September 29, 2005 in Washington, DC.
President announces nomination: July 19, 2005
Senate receives nomination: July 29, 2005
Confirmed: Sept. 29, 2005
(Note: Roberts was nominated twice by Bush but in immediate succession. The first was to replace Sandra Day O'Connor, but upon the death of William Rehnquist, his initial nomination was withdrawn and resubmitted as a nomination for Chief Justice. There are 23 days between his second nomination on September 6 and his confirmation.)
Stephen Breyer (77 days)
Jim Young/Reuters
U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Stephen Breyer is seen during a group portrait session for the new full court at the Supreme Court on Nov. 30, 2018, in Washington, DC.
President announces nomination: May 13, 1994
Senate receives nomination: May 17, 1994
Confirmed: July 29, 1994
Ruth Bader Ginsburg (50 days)
Dirck Halstead/Getty Images
Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist (R) swearing in new justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as husband Martin & Pres. Bill Clinton (L) look on.
President announces nomination: June 14, 1993
Senate receives nomination: June 22, 1993
Confirmed: Aug. 3, 1993
Clarence Thomas (106 days)
Dirck Halstead/Getty Images
Supreme Court Justice Byron White (R) swearing-in new Justice Clarence Thomas
President announces nomination: July 1, 1991
Senate receives nomination: July 8, 1991
Confirmed: Oct. 15, 1991