John Paul Stevens

John Paul Stevens

John Paul Stevens (April 20, 1920 – July 16, 2019) was an American lawyer and jurist who served as an associate justice of the United States Supreme Court from 1975 until his voluntary retirement in 2010. At the time of his retirement, he was the second-oldest-serving justice in the history of the court and the third-longest-serving justice. At the time of his death, he was the longest-lived Supreme Court justice ever. His long tenure saw him write for the court on most issues of American law, including civil liberties, death penalty, government action and intellectual property. In cases involving presidents of the United States, he wrote for the court that they were to be held accountable under American law. A registered Republican when appointed who throughout his life identified as a conservative, Stevens was considered to have been on the liberal side of the court at the time of his retirement.

Books

The Making of a Justice by John Paul Stevens

The Making of a Justice | Reflections on My First 94 Years by John Paul Stevens explores the author's impactful life as a Justice of the United States Supreme Court. In his memoir, the Justice recounts his extraordinary life, offering an intimate and illuminating account of his service on the nation’s highest court.

Six Amendments by John Paul Stevens

Six Amendments | How and Why We Should Change the Constitution by John Paul Stevens outlines this retired Supreme Court Justice's visions for amending the Constitution. This book is an absolutely unprecedented call to arms, detailing six specific ways in which the Constitution should be amended in order to protect our democracy and the safety and wellbeing of American citizens.
5 Chiefs by John Paul Stevens

Five Chiefs by John Paul Stevens

When he resigned in June 2010, Justice Stevens was the third longest-serving Justice in American history (1975-2010) — only Justice William O. Douglas, whom Stevens succeeded, and Stephen Field have served on the Court for a longer time. In Five Chiefs, Justice Stevens captures the inner workings of the Supreme Court via his personal experiences with the five Chief Justices — Fred Vinson, Earl Warren, Warren Burger, William Rehnquist, and John Roberts — that he interacted with.