Justice Stephen Breyer to retire from Supreme Court
Justice Stephen G. Breyer, seen here in 2013 (Elise Amendola/AP)
Supreme Court Justice Stephen G. Breyer has announced his intention to retire at the end of the court’s current term. Breyer has come to be known as a pragmatic liberal on the court as he is often willing to search for compromise among the ideologically divided court. Despite this, he stands firm on the topic of abortion and may have prolonged his stay on the court to personally defend Roe v. Wade. Breyer has also harked against the increasing partisan polarization even saying, “If the public sees judges as politicians in robes, its confidence in the courts — and in the rule of law itself — can only diminish.” This is ironic as he faces unprecedented pressure to retire while Democrats still hold their slim majority in the Senate in a bid to push through a left-leaning justice. This could result in history being made as President Biden has pledged to nominate the first ever African American Woman to the Supreme Court.
Kyle Rittenhouse gun from Kenosha shootings to be destroyed
Kyle Rittenhouse walks along Sheridan Road in Kenosha, Wis., Aug. 25, 2020 (Adam Rogan/The Journal Times via AP, File)
A judge approved an agreement by lawyers to destroy the firearm Kyle Rittenhouse used in self-defense during a 2020 street protest in Wisconsin. Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger said that the state crime lab is expected to destroy the gun sometime in April. Rittenhouse’s attorney, Mark Richards, filed a motion on January 19 asking that Rittenhouse’s rifle, ammunition, face-mask, and other clothing from the night of the shooting be returned to Rittenhouse. Rittenhouse reportedly wanted the items returned so that he could dispose of the items himself. Destruction of the gun is reported as part of the agreement reached on Friday with Rittenhouse’s other property having already been returned to him.The judge also ordered county officials to return the $2 million bail raised by conservative across the country at the time. Most of the money is to be split between Richards’ law firm and the #Fightback Foundation.
Thousands honor slain New York police officer at Manhattan funeral
Dominique Rivera, wife of New York City Police Department (NYPD) officer Jason Rivera, walks behind her husband's casket holding a cross after his funeral mass, January 28, 2022. Mary Altaffer/Pool via REUTERS
New York City Police Officers carried the coffin of Jason Rivera, one of four officers shot in the city over the past week, into a funeral service in St. Patrick's Cathedral. Rivera was shot after responding to a disturbance on January 21st where a woman claimed to be having a fight with one of her sons. The officer and his partner were fired upon after arriving on scene by the adult son with both dying from their injuries earlier this week. The suspect was released Thursday on a $250,000 bond. Mayor Eric Adams says that,"New Yorkers should all be outraged that a repeat offender, accused of shooting at a police officer, is today walking free on bond.” He claims this is proof that New York City needs to reform its public safety systems as it grapples with a spike in violent crime and police shootings.
Sources