Liberal US Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer will retire later this year after nearly three decades on the bench, giving President Biden an opportunity to nominate a successor who could serve for decades. 

The 83-year old’s replacement, who would serve for life, would not shift the court’s current 6-3 conservative majority. 

It comes as the court has been considering several hot-button issues such as decisions that could change abortion laws, limiting access to the procedure, throughout the nation.