Supreme Court Justice Breyer to officially retire Thursday at noon

Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer will officially retire from the high court Thursday at noon Eastern time after the court hands down its remaining opinions for this term.

In a letter dated Wednesday and addressed to President Joe Biden, Breyer, 83, said it has been his "great honor" participating as a judge in the effort to "maintain our Constitution and the Rule of Law." Breyer has served on the court since he was appointed in 1994, by then-President Bill Clinton. 

Incoming justice, D.C. Court of Appeals Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, 51, will take the "prescribed oaths" to begin her tenure as the 116th member of the court. She was confirmed in April by a vote of 53-47 and will be the first black woman to serve on the court. It is not yet clear exactly when she will be sworn in.

Breyer announced his decision to retire in January, which was applauded by Democrats who fear the possibility of losing yet another high court seat to a Republican president's appointee.