John Paul Stevens facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John Paul Stevens
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	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.

Images for kids

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  Stevens with President Gerald Ford and Chief Justice Warren E. Burger on December 19, 1975, the day he took his seat on the Supreme Court

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  Stevens (right) swears in John Roberts as Chief Justice on September 29, 2005, while Roberts' wife Jane and President George W. Bush look on. Ceremony in the East Room of the White House

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  Stevens with his successor Elena Kagan in 2010

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  Stevens's official portrait, 1976

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  President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at Stevens's funeral.