Breaking: Justice Stevens Announces Retirement, Cable News Producers Scramble

It’s official: Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens announced his retirement today at the tender age of 89, giving Barack Obama the second Supreme Court opening of his tenure. Let the speculation begin.

From AP:

Stevens says he will step down when the court finishes its work for the summer in late June or early July. His announcement Friday in Washington had been hinted at for months. It comes 11 days before his 90th birthday.

[…]

Stevens’ departure will not change the court’s conservative-liberal split because Obama is certain to name a liberal-leaning replacement. But the new justice is not likely to be able to match Stevens’ ability to marshal narrow majorities in big cases.

AP is also reporting its early predictions for a replacement: Solicitor General Elena Kagan, 49, and federal appellate Judges Merrick Garland, 57, and Diane Wood, 59.

UPDATE: Talking Points Memo has acquired Justice Stevens’ resignation letter:

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