The day has finally come, with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer standing down from his role on June 30 at noon Eastern Time

In a letter to President Joe Biden, Breyer says it’s been his “great honour” to be a judge in the effort to maintain the Constitution and the Rule of Law.

This retirement paves the way for Ketanji Brown Jackson to take the reins and become the 116th member of the nation’s highest court.

Jackson, was confirmed by the Senate in April by a vote of 53-to-47.

Breyer will keep an office at the Supreme Court, but it will be smaller than the one he currently resides in.

Democrats were pleased with Breyer’s decision to stand down while Biden is president, fearing the party could lose the seat to a yet another conservative justice if a Republican is voted into office in the next election.