John Paul Stevens

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Former Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens Dies at 99
Supreme Court's 
'Liberal Lion' Dies at 99
OBITUARY
Jul 17, 2019 12:08 AM CDT

Supreme Court's 'Liberal Lion' Dies at 99

John Paul Stevens was on the high court for 35 years

(Newser) - John Paul Stevens, the bow-tied, independent-thinking, Republican-nominated justice who unexpectedly emerged as the Supreme Court's leading liberal, died Tuesday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., after suffering a stroke Monday. He was 99. During nearly 35 years on the court, Stevens stood for the freedom and dignity of individuals, be they...

Retired Supreme Court Justice Changes Mind on Kavanaugh

John Paul Stevens says nominee doesn't belong on the high court

(Newser) - One of the longest-serving justices in Supreme Court history thinks it would be a mistake to put Brett Kavanaugh on the court. John Paul Stevens, a Republican who served on the court from 1975 to 2010, told a gathering in Florida on Thursday that he had changed his mind about...

A Repeal of 2nd Amendment? Trump Weighs In

'NEVER,' president tweets after suggestion from retired Supreme Court justice

(Newser) - President Trump tweeted Wednesday there's no chance the Second Amendment will ever be repealed and called on voters to elect more Republicans in this fall's congressional elections so the GOP can retain control of the Supreme Court. Trump's statements came a day after retired Supreme Court Justice...

Retired Justice's 6 Words of Advice for Student Protesters

'Get rid of the Second Amendment'

(Newser) - Retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens is the latest prominent figure to applaud student protesters calling for action on gun control. But in an op-ed published Tuesday in the New York Times , he says they should raise their demands to include—constitutional defenders, prepare yourself—a "repeal of...

Justice John Paul Stevens: Time to Legalize Weed

It's not that different from booze, he says

(Newser) - In a development Gerald Ford probably didn't see coming when he appointed him to the Supreme Court back in 1975, Justice John Paul Stevens says it's time to legalize marijuana. The 94-year-old, who retired in 2010, compares alcohol to marijuana in an interview with NPR and says there'...

Justice Stevens on SCOTUS: 'I Didn't Do Well Enough'

Describes time on high court as 'terribly disappointing, gratifying'

(Newser) - John Paul Stevens has been piping up recently ahead of his new book, and he continues that trend today with an interview on ABC in which he describes his lengthy tenure on the United States Supreme Court thusly : "It’s really awfully hard because it's a series of...

Judge Stevens: 5 Words Can Fix 2nd Amendment

Retired Supreme Court justice proposes a remedy

(Newser) - Retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens argues in the Washington Post that the debate over the 2nd Amendment and the right to bear arms can be settled with the addition of five words. Here they are, inserted into the amendment in bold:
  • “A well regulated Militia, being necessary
...

Stevens: High Court Likely Rethinking Citizens United

Former Supreme Court justice says 'second thoughts' are likely

(Newser) - John Paul Stevens, who dissented on the controversial Citizens United ruling before retiring from the US Supreme Court in 2010, says the rest of the justices appear to be having "second thoughts about the breadth of the reasoning." Stevens made his comments at a University of Arkansas event...

Bob Dylan Gets Medal of Freedom

Madeleine Albright, John Glenn also among honorees

(Newser) - President Obama bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Bob Dylan, Madeleine Albright, and a host of other luminaries today at the White House. The Los Angeles Times notes that 1962 seemed to be a pivotal year for this year's honorees: It's when Dylan's first album came...

Bob Dylan to Get Presidential Medal of Freedom

Pat Summitt, Toni Morrison also among this year's honorees

(Newser) - Bob Dylan will get the nation's highest civilian honor later this spring, reports Bloomberg . Dylan, 70, will be one of 13 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He's already got scores of Grammys, an Oscar, and a Pulitzer, and the Wall Street Journal's Speakeasy blog can'...

Justice Stevens Explains Shift on Death Penalty

Former supporter cites racism, politics, judicial activism

(Newser) - Former Supreme Court justice John Paul Stevens is making clear for the first time why he switched course on the death penalty in 2008, calling it unconstitutional, the New York Times reports. Writing in the New York Review of Books, Stevens, who supported capital punishment in 1976, reveals his revised...

Bowties Bid Stevens Adieu on Last Day

(Newser) - Bowtie-wearing lawyers and spectators dotted the Supreme Court chamber on the last day Justice John Paul Stevens sat on the bench, a nod to the retiring justice and his signature neckwear. The 90-year-old Stevens told colleagues in a letter he read from the bench that if he had "overstayed"...

Kagan Pick Reveals Savvy Obama Strategy
Kagan Pick Reveals
Savvy Obama Strategy
OPINION
May 11, 2010 5:35 AM CDT

Kagan Pick Reveals Savvy Obama Strategy

Prez manages to play it safe and progressive at the same time

(Newser) - President Obama's pick of Elena Kagan for the Supreme Court says more about the president than his nominee, writes Glenn Thrush. The president spoke boldly about the need to stand up to big business in his pre-selection talk while privately seeking a safe pick who could be confirmed without much...

Kagan Choice for Court: How It Will Play Out

She'll have critics on both right and left, but will skirt major battles

(Newser) - The Senate confirmation hearings for Elena Kagan will likely include some minor dust-ups but no major battles, observers say. Liberals are worried she's more conservative than Stevens and will thus push the court to the right, but are unlikely to seriously oppose her. Conservatives respect her overall, though her move...

Obama Will Nominate Elena Kagan to Supreme Court

President Obama plans to nominate solicitor general for high court seat

(Newser) - President Obama plans to nominate Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court to replace John Paul Stevens tomorrow, MSNBC reports and numerous other sources comfirm. Should Kagan, 50, be confirmed, the high court would have three female justices for the first time. Her nomination marks the first time in 38 years...

Obama Interviews First Court Candidate

Under-the-radar pick Sidney Thomas gets Oval Office meeting

(Newser) - President Obama has accelerated his search for his next Supreme Court nominee, meeting in the Oval Office with one of the candidates, federal judge Sidney Thomas of Montana, a person familiar with the conversation says. Obama's meeting with Thomas yesterday was his first known formal interview for the upcoming vacancy...

Democrats to Play Offense in Court Fight

Will attack 'conservative judicial activism,' citing Citizens United ruling

(Newser) - “Judicial activism” isn’t just a conservative buzzword anymore. Democrats intend to use the upcoming confirmation battle over John Paul Stevens’ successor to argue that it’s the conservatives on John Roberts’ court who are litigating from the bench, high-ranking Democrats tell Politico . Exhibit A: The wildly unpopular Citizens...

White House: Clinton Staying Put
 White House: 
 Clinton Staying Put 
BELTWAY RUMORS
Apr 12, 2010 2:51 PM CDT

White House: Clinton Staying Put

Refutes Hatch suggestion she's being considered for Supreme Court

(Newser) - Orrin Hatch is a nice guy and all, but his speculation this morning that Hillary Clinton might fill the Supreme Court seat of John Paul Stevens is bunk—or so says the White House, according to Politico . "The president thinks Secretary Clinton is doing an excellent job as Secretary...

Hillary Clinton's Name Floated for Court Slot: Sen. Hatch

Sen. Orrin Hatch says he's heard her name floated

(Newser) - Sen. Orrin Hatch says he's heard Hillary Clinton's name mentioned in connection with the Supreme Court vacancy brought about by the retirement of John Paul Stevens. Appearing with Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy on NBC's Today show, the Utah Republican said only, "I heard Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's...

After Stevens: What's Next?
 After Stevens: What's Next? 
OPINION Roundup
Apr 9, 2010 1:07 PM CDT

After Stevens: What's Next?

Expect a fierce battle for liberal justice's replacement

(Newser) - What will John Paul Stevens’ retirement mean for the Supreme Court? Here are three early thoughts on what comes next:
  • Expect the tea partiers to get extremely riled up over whoever President Obama nominates, writes Chris Good of the Atlantic . They have a “very strict (one could almost say
...

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