Stevens, John Paul

Born April 20, 1920, in Chicago, IL
Died July 16, 2019, in Fort Lauderdale, FL

Federal Judicial Service:
Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
Nominated by Richard M. Nixon on September 22, 1970, to a seat vacated by Elmer Jacob Schnackenberg. Confirmed by the Senate on October 8, 1970, and received commission on October 14, 1970. Service terminated on December 19, 1975, due to appointment to another judicial position.

Associate Justice, Supreme Court of the United States
Nominated by Gerald Ford on November 28, 1975, to a seat vacated by William O. Douglas. Confirmed by the Senate on December 17, 1975, and received commission on December 17, 1975. Assumed senior status on June 30, 2010. Service terminated on July 16, 2019, due to death.

Supreme Court Oath:
December 19, 1975

Allotment as Circuit Justice:

Seventh Circuit, December 19, 1975-June 28, 2010
Eleventh Circuit, December 1, 1987-February 17, 1988
Third Circuit, August 7, 1990-October 8, 1990
Sixth Circuit, October 9, 1990-June 28, 2010

Education:
University of Chicago, B.A., 1941
Northwestern University School of Law (now Pritzker School of Law), J.D., 1947

Professional Career:

U.S. Naval Reserve lieutenant commander, 1942-1945
Law clerk, Hon. Wiley Rutledge, Supreme Court of the United States, 1947-1948
Private practice, Chicago, Illinois, 1948-1970
Lecturer, Northwestern University School of Law, 1950-1954
Associate counsel, Subcommittee on the Study of Monopoly Power, U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary, 1951
Member, Attorney General's Committee to Study Antitrust Laws, U.S. Department of Justice, 1953-1955
Lecturer, University of Chicago School of Law, 1954-1958
Presiding officer, Judicial Conference of the United States, 2005

Manuscript Collections

Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
John Paul Stevens papers, 1939-2019.
512 linear ft.; finding aid; restrictions apply. Case files consisting of administrative and opinion files, docket sheets, and certiorari memoranda documenting Stevens's tenure as a Supreme Court justice. Includes materials pertaining to significant decisions in which he participated in such areas as affirmative action, civil rights, capital punishment, and election law.

University of Wyoming
American Heritage Center
Laramie, Wyo.
John Paul Stevens papers, 1942-1957.
3.6 cubic ft.; finding aid; collection of miscellaneous legal documents from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (1942-1956), Appellate Court of Illinois (1956-1957), U.S. courts of appeals (1954-1956), Supreme Court of Illinois (1953), U.S. Supreme Court (1954-1956), and other printed material.

Oral History

Stevens, John Paul. Oral history interview conducted by Carol F. Lee, Samuel Estreicher, and Troy McKenzie on September 26, October 10, and October 31, 2014. Oral History of Distinguished American Judges, Institute of Judicial Administration, New York University School of Law, 2020. Video, 98 minutes, and transcript; available online.

Federal Judicial Center

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Stevens, John Paul