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John Paul Stevens
John Paul Stevens, SCOTUS photo portrait.jpg
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
In office
December 17, 1975 – June 29, 2010
Nominated by Gerald Ford
Preceded by William O. Douglas
Succeeded by Elena Kagan
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
In office
November 2, 1970 – December 19, 1975
Nominated by Richard Nixon
Preceded by Elmer Jacob Schnackenberg
Succeeded by Harlington Wood Jr.
Personal details
Born (1920-04-20)April 20, 1920
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died July 16, 2019(2019-07-16) (aged 99)
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.
Resting place Arlington National Cemetery
Political party Republican
Spouse(s)
Elizabeth Sheeren
(m. 1942; div. 1979)

Maryan Mulholland Simon
(m. 1979; died 2015)
Children 4
Education University of Chicago (BA)
Northwestern University (JD)
Civilian awards Presidential Medal of Freedom
Signature
Military service
Allegiance  United States
Branch/service  United States Navy
Years of service 1942–1945
Rank U.S. Navy O-4 infobox.svg Lieutenant Commander
Battles/wars World War II
Military awards Bronze Star
World War II Victory Medal

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. The oldest-serving justice was Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., who was 90 years and 309 days at the time of his retirement in 1932. and the third-longest-serving justice. 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, Stevens was considered to have been on the liberal side of the court at the time of his retirement. Stevens was the longest-lived Supreme Court justice in United States history.

Born in Chicago, Stevens served in the United States Navy during World War II and graduated from Northwestern University School of Law. After clerking for Justice Wiley Blount Rutledge, he co-founded a law firm in Chicago, focusing on antitrust law. In 1970, President Richard Nixon appointed Stevens to the Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Five years later, President Gerald Ford successfully nominated Stevens to the Supreme Court to fill the vacancy caused by the retirement of Justice William O. Douglas. He became the senior Associate Justice after the retirement of Harry Blackmun in 1994. Stevens retired during the administration of President Barack Obama and was succeeded by Elena Kagan.

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