Clyburn's Pressure Could Force Biden To Make Another Suboptimal Choice

Since 1790, only 120 Supreme Court Justices have served on America's apex court. It is little wonder then that when Justice Stephen Breyer, the second-longest serving member of the current Court, decided to step down this week, the Democrats were thrilled.

First, it was a pleasant distraction from the drumbeat of negative news plaguing the Left since December. Second, Breyer's retirement suddenly gave Democrats a chance to confirm a young, reliable left-wing jurist to serve for years more to come.

While there is no shortage of eminent intellectuals who would fit such a bill, the list has been sharply shortened to fit the demands of one man, Rep. James Clyburn, the Congressman from South Carolina: The eventual nominee has to be a woman and Black.

President Biden agreed to do just as much in his public remarks at the White House. "The person I will nominate will be someone with extraordinary qualifications, character, experience, and integrity, and that person will be the first Black woman ever nominated to the United States Supreme Court."