US supreme court's oldest member is to step down at 90

SUPREME court justice John Paul Stevens, the United States court's oldest member and leader of its liberal bloc, is to retire, he said yesterday, leaving President Barack Obama his second US high court opening to fill.

Mr Stevens said he will step down when the court finishes its work for the summer in late June or early July. He said he hopes his successor is confirmed "well in advance of the commencement of the court's next term."

His announcement had been hinted at for months. It comes 11 days before his 90th birthday.

The timing of his announcement leaves ample time for the White House to settle on a successor and senate Democrats, who control 59 votes in the 100-member chamber, to conduct confirmation hearings and a vote.

Republicans have not ruled out an attempt to delay confirmation.

The leading candidates to replace Stevens are solicitor general Elena Kagan, 49, and federal appellate judges Merrick Garland, 57, and Diane Wood, 59.

Stevens' departure will not change the court's conservative-liberal split as Obama is certain to name a liberal-leaning replacement.