Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens Retiring

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Supreme Court’s oldest member and itsleading liberal is retiring. Justice John Paul Stevens informed President Barack Obama of hisdecision in a one-paragraph letter received at the White House thismorning. Stevens say he’ll step down when the court finishes its work forthe summer. The announcement comes as no surprise. Stevens, who joined thecourt in 1975 after being nominated by President Gerald Ford, turns90 later this month. He acknowledged in recent interviews that he’sbeen thinking about retirement. The move gives Obama his second high court opening to fill, andStevens says he hopes his successor will be confirmed “well inadvance” of the court’s next term.