John Paul Stevens
A Supreme Court justice whose jurisprudence evolved from Republican centrist to the liberal anchor of the Court, championing individual liberties.
1920–2019 (age 99)·United States Supreme Court justice from 1975 to 2010·Birthday: April 20·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Appointed by a Republican president, John Paul Stevens became the unlikely progressive conscience of the Supreme Court over his nearly 35-year tenure. A Navy veteran who earned a Bronze Star for his codebreaking work in World War II, Stevens brought a sharp, independent mind to the bench. Initially a moderate, his views on issues like affirmative action, church-state separation, and executive power shifted notably to the left as the Court itself moved right. He was known for his lucid, lawyerly opinions, often concurring or dissenting with a bow-tied politeness that belied fierce intellectual rigor. Stevens left an indelible mark, authoring opinions that defended Guantanamo detainees' rights and struck down the death penalty for juveniles. His long career was a master class in the evolution of judicial philosophy.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
John was born in 1920, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When John Was Born
The biggest hits of 1920
#1 Movie
Way Down East
John's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1920Born
Women gain the right to vote in the US
Home: $3,395President: Woodrow Wilson"Swanee" — Al Jolson
1925Started school
The Scopes Trial debates evolution in schools
Home: $4,366President: Calvin Coolidge"Sweet Georgia Brown" — Ben Bernie
1933Became a teenager
FDR's New Deal launches; Prohibition ends
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stormy Weather" — Ethel WatersBest Picture: Cavalcade
1936Could drive
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1938Could vote
Kristallnacht and the escalation toward WWII
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $2,850Min wage: $0.25/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Begin the Beguine" — Artie ShawBest Picture: You Can't Take It with You
1941Turned 21
Pearl Harbor attack brings the US into WWII
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,060Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Glenn MillerBest Picture: How Green Was My Valley
1950Turned 30
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1960Turned 40
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1970Turned 50
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1980Turned 60
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1990Turned 70
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
2000Turned 80
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2019Died at 99
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
Key Achievements
- Authored the majority opinion in *Hamdan v. Rumsfeld* (2006), ruling military commissions for Guantanamo detainees illegal without Congressional authorization.
- Wrote the dissent in *Bush v. Gore* (2000), criticizing the Court's intervention in the presidential election.
- Became the third-longest-serving justice in Supreme Court history, with a tenure of over 34 years.
- Wrote the opinion in *Massachusetts v. EPA* (2007), affirming the agency's authority to regulate greenhouse gases.
Did You Know?
He served as a naval intelligence officer in the Pacific during WWII, contributing to the breaking of Japanese codes.
Stevens was an avid bridge player and often participated in national tournaments.
He was the last Supreme Court justice to have served in World War II.
He famously wore a bow tie with his judicial robes, a sartorial signature.
“An independent judiciary is one of this nation's greatest strengths.”
