Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens retiring

WASHINGTON (AP) — Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, the court's oldest member and leader of its liberal bloc, said he is retiring. President Barack Obama now has his second high court opening to fill.

Justice Stevens said today 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.

Justice Stevens began signaling a possible retirement last summer when he hired just one of his usual complement of four law clerks for the next court term. He acknowledged in several interviews that he was contemplating stepping down and would certainly do so during Obama's presidency.