Justice John Paul Stevens

Alia and Rémy

1920Chicago, IllinoisUniversity of

Chicago1941Graduated Phi Beta Kappa

1942Married

Elizabeth Sheeren

Northwestern Law School

Editor-in-chief of

school’s law review

Navy–WWIIBronze Star

Experience

Law clerk for

Justice William

Rutledge

Associate Council for a Congressional Subcommittee on

the Study of Monopoly Power

Second Vice

President to Chicago

Bar Associatio

n

1970-1975US Court of Appeals for

Seventh Circuit

1975:Appointed

by President Ford as

Associate Justice on Supreme

Court98-0

“It is not our job to apply laws that have not yet been

written.”

“The practice of executing such offenders is a relic of the past

and is inconsistent with evolving standards of decency in a

civilized society.”

“Just as the right to speak and the right to refrain from speaking are complementary components of a broader

concept of individual freedom of mind, so also the individual’s freedom to choose his own creed is the

counterpart of his right to refrain from accepting the creed established by the majority.”

Quotes

David Hackett Souter

Stella and Rémy

Born Sunday September 17, 1939

Melrose, MA

In high school:“Most Sophisticated”

“Most Likely to Succeed”

Graduated Magna Cum Laude from HARVARD!!!

Rhodes Scholar at Oxford

Studied law at Harvard

From Cradle to…Law School?

Currently 68 years

old…In his prime, baby!

Law Career• Orr & Reno law firm in Concord -

specialized in corporate law• Trustee for New Hampshire Historical

Society• Assistant Attorney General - 1968

– Eventually became Attorney General for New Hampshire

• Appointed to New Hampshire Supreme Court in 1983

• Appointed by George Bush Sr. to U.S. Court of Appeals - 1990

AND THEN…….

THE SUPREME COURT!• Appointed by President George HW Bush in 1990

– He was 51– 90-9 - no one knew anything about him

• Labeled as “stealth justice”– Unknown judge with uncertain values

• White House thought he would be a conservative “home run,” liberals thought he would switch sides– To this day, has claimed no allegiance– Has remained key in preventing conservative

dominance

• Votes along same lines as O’Connor• Best friend on the court is Scalia

A bit of an odd bird…

• Bachelor…and loving it• Often described as quirky and

eccentric• Enjoys rock climbing in the judicial off

season• Brings the same lunch every day

– Apples and yogurt

Quotes“The court’s interpretive task is to

determine the meaning of constitutional language as it was understood when the

framers proposed it.”

“The usual thinking of the common law is suspicious of the all-or-nothing analysis that tends to produce legal petrification instead of an evolving boundary

between the domains of old principles. Common-law method tends to pay respect instead to detail,

seeking to understand old principles afresh by new examples and new counterexamples. The ‘tradition is a living thing,’ albeit one that moves by moderate

steps carefully taken.”

Works CitedChicago Bears Logo. 30 April 2008.

<http://www.raidmyspace.com/myspace-graphics/backgrounds/sports-backgrounds/>.

Chicago Cubs Logo. 30 April 2008. <http://carpefactum.typepad.com/my_weblog/office_politics/index.html>.

Curry, Tom. “Justice Stevens is Key to High Court’s Future.” MSNBC. 21 September 2005. 30 April 2008. <www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9408518/>

“John Paul Stevens: Biography.” Oyez. 30 April 2008. <http://www.oyez.org/justices/

john_paul_stevens/>.

Justice Stevens 2. Photograph. Truthdig. 30 June 2006. 30 April 2008. <http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20060630_truthdigger_week_john_paul_steve

ns/>.

Justice Stevens 3. Photograph. 30 April 2008. <http://www.betcha.com/

Blogs/archives/2006/December>.

“The Justices of the Supreme Court.” 30 April 2008. <http://www.supremecourtus.gov/about/biographiescurrent.pdf>.

Mears, Bill. “Justices: Does Lethal Injection Hurt?”. CNN. 26 April 2006. 30 April 2008. <http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/04/26/scotus.injection/index.html>.

Northwestern University Logo. Northwestern University. 30 April 2008. <www.dunand.northwestern.edu/>.

University of Chicago Logo. The University of Chicago. 30 April 2008. <http://research.uchicago.edu/uc_anl_centers.shtml>.