Changes

|role=Associate

|role=Associate

|nominator=[[Gerald Ford]]

|nominator=[[Gerald Ford]]

|terms=December 19, 1975-2010

|terms=December 19, 1975–June 29, 2010

|preceded=[[William O. Douglas]]

|preceded=[[William O. Douglas]]

|former=y

|former=y

}}

}}

}}

}}

'''John Paul Stevens''' (born April 20, 1920) was an Associate Justice of the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] (1975-2010); when he retired he was its only full veteran of the [[Armed Services]].<ref>Justice [[Anthony Kennedy]] once served in the National Guard in California.</ref> On April 9, 2010, Justice Stevens announced his retirement from the Court effective at the end of its October 2009 Term.

'''John Paul Stevens''' (born April 20, 1920) was an Associate Justice of the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] (1975–2010); when he retired he was its only full veteran of the [[Armed Services]].<ref>Justice [[Anthony Kennedy]] once served in the National Guard in California.</ref> On April 9, 2010, Justice Stevens announced his retirement from the Court effective at the end of its October 2009 Term.

 

In 1970, [[Richard Nixon]] appointed Stevens to the [[federal]] Court of Appeals for the [[Seventh Circuit]] in 1970, where he rendered a decision influential to the battle over the [[Equal Rights Amendment]]. President [[Gerald Ford]] appointed Stevens to fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Justice [[William Douglas]] in 1975, and Stevens was easily confirmed.

In 1970, [[Richard Nixon]] appointed Stevens to the [[federal]] Court of Appeals for the [[Seventh Circuit]] in 1970, where he rendered a decision influential to the battle over the [[Equal Rights Amendment]]. President [[Gerald Ford]] appointed Stevens to fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Justice [[William Douglas]] in 1975, and Stevens was easily confirmed.

Though appointed by a Republican President, Stevens consistently votes with the [[liberal]] wing of the Court, particularly on [[abortion]], the [[Establishment Clause]] and other social issues. A rare exception to his voting with the [[liberal]] bloc is on issues endangering patriotism, such as Justice Stevens' vote to uphold laws against flag-burning. (Justice Stevens won a Bronze Star for his service in the [[Navy]] during [[World War II]], as described below.)

Though appointed by a Republican President, Stevens consistently voted with the [[liberal]] wing of the Court, particularly on [[abortion]], the [[Establishment Clause]], the [[Second Amendment]], and other social issues. A rare exception to his voting with the [[liberal]] bloc was on issues endangering patriotism, such as Justice Stevens' vote to uphold laws against flag-burning. (Justice Stevens won a Bronze Star for his service in the [[Navy]] during [[World War II]], as described below.)

Justice Stevens is often unpredictable and can express unusual views and has concurred or dissented in 1284 cases as of August 2007. For example, only Justice Stevens declared that violated the [[Establishment Clause]] for a state to recognize that life begins at conception:<ref>''Webster v. Reprod. Health Servs''., 492 U.S. 490, 566-67 (1989) (Stevens, J., concurring in part and dissenting in part)</ref>

Justice Stevens is often unpredictable and can express unusual views and has concurred or dissented in 1284 cases as of August 2007. For example, only Justice Stevens declared that violated the [[Establishment Clause]] for a state to recognize that life begins at conception:<ref>''Webster v. Reprod. Health Servs''., 492 U.S. 490, 566-67 (1989) (Stevens, J., concurring in part and dissenting in part)</ref>

Often writing in dissent, Justice Stevens wrote few significant majority decisions for the Court. During his 35 years as a Supreme Court Justice, his most important Court decisions were ''Atkins v. Virginia'' (2002) (holding that the execution of mentally retarded defendants was unconstitutional under the [[Eighth Amendment]]); ''Clinton v. Jones'' (1997) (holding that a president is not exempt from civil litigation); and ''Wallace v. Jaffree'' (1985) (invalidating a state law mandating a minute of silence in public schools "for meditation or silent prayer"). Justice Stevens voted in favor of the constitutionality of the [[death penalty]] in 1976,<ref>''See Gregg v. Georgia'', 428 U.S. 153 (1976)</ref> but later took the position that it is always unconstitutional.

Often writing in dissent, Justice Stevens wrote few significant majority decisions for the Court. During his 35 years as a Supreme Court Justice, his most important Court decisions were ''Atkins v. Virginia'' (2002) (holding that the execution of mentally retarded defendants was unconstitutional under the [[Eighth Amendment]]); ''Clinton v. Jones'' (1997) (holding that a president is not exempt from civil litigation); and ''Wallace v. Jaffree'' (1985) (invalidating a state law mandating a minute of silence in public schools "for meditation or silent prayer"). Justice Stevens voted in favor of the constitutionality of the [[death penalty]] in 1976,<ref>''See Gregg v. Georgia'', 428 U.S. 153 (1976)</ref> but later took the position that it is always unconstitutional.

Justice Stevens dissented alone from an 8-1 decision reversing application the racketeering law (designed to use against mobsters) to [[pro-life]] protesters. In other words, Justices Stevens felt that this law should apply against pro-lifers, relying heavily on his own dissents from prior Supreme Court decisions:

Justice Stevens dissented alone from an 8–1 decision reversing application the racketeering law (designed to use against mobsters) to [[pro-life]] protesters. In other words, Justices Stevens felt that this law should apply against pro-lifers, relying heavily on his own dissents from prior Supreme Court decisions:

:In my opinion Judge Kearse's analysis of the issue is manifestly correct. Even if the issue were close, however, three additional considerations provide strong support for her conclusion. First, the uniform construction of the statute that has prevailed throughout the country for decades should remain the law unless and until Congress decides to amend the statute. See Reves v. Ernst & Young, 494 U.S. 56, 74, 108 L. Ed. 2d 47, 110 S. Ct. 945 (1990) (STEVENS, J., concurring); Chesapeake & Ohio R. Co. v. Schwalb, 493 U.S. 40, 51, 107 L. Ed. 2d 278, 110 S. Ct. 381 (1989) (STEVENS, J., concurring in judgment); McNally v. United States, 483 U.S. 350, 376-377, 97 L. Ed. 2d 292, 107 S. Ct. 2875 (1987) (STEVENS, J., dissenting); 2 Shearson/American Express Inc. v. McMahon, 482 U.S. 220, 268-269, 96 L. Ed. 2d 185, 107 S. Ct. 2332 (1987) (STEVENS, J., concurring in part and dissenting in part). ...

:In my opinion Judge Kearse's analysis of the issue is manifestly correct. Even if the issue were close, however, three additional considerations provide strong support for her conclusion. First, the uniform construction of the statute that has prevailed throughout the country for decades should remain the law unless and until Congress decides to amend the statute. See Reves v. Ernst & Young, 494 U.S. 56, 74, 108 L. Ed. 2d 47, 110 S. Ct. 945 (1990) (STEVENS, J., concurring); Chesapeake & Ohio R. Co. v. Schwalb, 493 U.S. 40, 51, 107 L. Ed. 2d 278, 110 S. Ct. 381 (1989) (STEVENS, J., concurring in judgment); McNally v. United States, 483 U.S. 350, 376-377, 97 L. Ed. 2d 292, 107 S. Ct. 2875 (1987) (STEVENS, J., dissenting); 2 Shearson/American Express Inc. v. McMahon, 482 U.S. 220, 268-269, 96 L. Ed. 2d 185, 107 S. Ct. 2332 (1987) (STEVENS, J., concurring in part and dissenting in part). ...

Scheidler v. NOW, Inc., 537 U.S. 393, 416-17 (Stevens, J., dissenting)

Scheidler v. NOW, Inc., 537 U.S. 393, 416-17 (Stevens, J., dissenting)

Justice Stevens dissented alone from a decision upholding a blanket exclusion of defendant's polygraph evidence in military trials.<ref>''[[United States v. Scheffer]]'', 523 U.S. 303 (1998).</ref>

Justice Stevens dissented alone from a decision upholding a blanket exclusion of defendant's polygraph evidence in military trials.<ref>''[[United States v. Scheffer]]'', 523 U.S. 303 (1998).</ref>

== Personal ==

 

== Personal life ==

Stevens is from a wealthy family that once owned and insurance business and the hotel that is now the Chicago Hilton: during his young lifetime, the business endured some financial difficulties that left an impression on the young lawyer.<ref>Jeffrey Toobin, ''The Nine.''</ref> Stevens graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the [[University of Chicago]] in 1941. He had a son and three daughters by his first wife, whom he [[divorced]] a few years after joining the Supreme Court and then remarried a year later.

Stevens is from a wealthy family that once owned and insurance business and the hotel that is now the Chicago Hilton: during his young lifetime, the business endured some financial difficulties that left an impression on the young lawyer.<ref>Jeffrey Toobin, ''The Nine.''</ref> Stevens graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the [[University of Chicago]] in 1941. He had a son and three daughters by his first wife, whom he [[divorced]] a few years after joining the Supreme Court and then remarried a year later.

He graduated with the highest grades in the history of [[Northwestern University Law School]] and specialized in [[antitrust law]] as a practicing attorney and later as a professor and special counsel to the House of Representatives and the U.S. Attorney General's office.

He graduated with the highest grades in the history of [[Northwestern University Law School]] and specialized in [[antitrust law]] as a practicing attorney and later as a professor and special counsel to the House of Representatives and the U.S. Attorney General's office.

As of his retirement from the Court he is still physically vigorous, playing tennis several times a month; he also has an older brother who is physically vigorous.

As of his retirement from the Court, he is still physically vigorous, playing tennis several times a month; he also has an older brother who is physically vigorous.

== References==

== References==

{{Supreme Court|burger=y|rehnquist=y|roberts=y}}

{{Supreme Court|burger=y|rehnquist=y|roberts=y}}