"It is not our job to apply laws that have not yet been written."
Biographical Details
Photo: Joe Raedle / Getty Images.
87 years old. Graduated from the University of Chicago (1941) and Northwestern University Law School (magna cum laude, 1947), where he served as co-editor of the prestigious Illinois Law Review. Congregationalist. Married twice, currently to Maryan Mulholland Simon, with eight children, various grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.
Career Background
1942-1945: Intelligence officer for the U.S. Navy during World War II. Earned a Bronze Star.
1947-1948: Clerked for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Wiley Rutledge.
1950-1952: Associate counsel at Poppenhusen, Johnston, Thompson & Raymond.
1950-1954: Lecturer in Antitrust Law at Northwestern University.
1951-1952: Associate Counsel to the Subcommittee on the Study of Monopoly Power of the Judiciary, the U.S. House of Representatives.
1952-1970: Partner at Rothschild, Stevens, Barry & Myers in Chicago.
1953-1955: Served on the National Committee to Study Antitrust Law.
1955-1958: Lecturer in Antitrust Law at the University of Chicago.1970-1975: Associate Justice of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Nomination and Approval
In December 1975, President Gerald Ford nominated Stevens to replace the retiring Associate Justice William O. Douglas. He was approved unanimously (99-0) by the Senate.
Landmark Cases
Federal Communications Commission v. Pacifica Foundation (1978): Ruled that the FCC could regulate indecent speech in broadcast media during hours where children are likely to be watching or listening.
Bush v. Gore (2000): Fiercely dissented in the 5-4 case that granted George W. Bush the presidency.
Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe (2000): Ruled that laws specifically designed to encourage student-led prayer at public school events violate the First Amendment's establishment clause.
