Retired Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer has responded to the recent calls for Justice Sonia Sotomayor to retire from the bench, stating that she is a "spring chicken." Breyer, who retired at the age of 83, used the opportunity to express his opinion on the matter during an interview with Fox News host Shannon Bream on "Fox News Sunday."

The call for Sotomayor's resignation has gained traction in recent months, with op-eds, including one published in the Atlantic, suggesting that she should retire under the Biden administration. Left-leaning pundits and academics argue that President Biden and the Democrat-controlled Senate could approve a replacement before the next presidential election.

However, Breyer dismissed these demands, emphasizing the age difference between himself and Justice Sotomayor. "She is a spring chicken, and I'm an old rooster. People can say what they want, but the decision about what to do is up to the judge," he asserted. Breyer even jokingly remarked that one could theoretically serve on the Supreme Court until they are 150 years old, highlighting the lifetime appointment nature of the position.

At 69 years old, Sotomayor, who became a Supreme Court Justice in 2009 under President Barack Obama, is the oldest liberal-leaning Justice on the Court. However, she is still younger than conservative Justices Samuel Alito, 74, and Clarence Thomas, 75.

The argument put forth by liberal pundits is that if Sotomayor does not retire under the Biden administration, there is a risk that Republicans could gain control of the White House and the Senate in the future, potentially leading to the appointment of a younger conservative Justice. Democrats are hoping to maintain a liberal-leaning bench by urging Sotomayor's retirement while they hold power.

During the interview, Breyer also reflected on his friendship with the late Justice Antonin Scalia, despite their divergent legal opinions. The retired Justice mentioned their joint visit to students in Lubbock, Texas, where they engaged in friendly debates about their differing views.

Breyer's new book, "Reading the Constitution: Why I Chose Pragmatism, Not Textualism," criticizes conservative Justices for their decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. The book highlights his belief in pragmatism, where laws are interpreted based on specific social contexts, as opposed to textualism, which interprets laws based on their "plain meaning."

Although Breyer and Scalia had differing views on legal interpretation, they maintained a close friendship until Scalia's sudden death in 2016 at the age of 79.

In conclusion, retired Justice Breyer has dismissed calls for Justice Sotomayor's resignation, referring to her as a "spring chicken." The debate surrounding Sotomayor's retirement revolves around maintaining a liberal-leaning Supreme Court, with Democrats hoping to secure a replacement before potentially losing power in future elections. Breyer's thoughts on this matter follow his reflections on his friendship with Scalia and his emphasis on a pragmatic approach to interpreting the Constitution.