John Paul Stevens

Abstract:     
This entry for the Encyclopedia of American Civil Liberties examines the life and work of Justice John Paul Stevens. As the article relates, in Stevens's three decades on the Supreme Court, he has established himself as a highly independent thinker distinguished for his originality and lack of ideology. A prolific writer, Stevens has produced a wide range of opinions that share a dedication to restrained decision making in the common law tradition of case-by-case adjudication, a deep faith in the judicial exercise of reason and judgment, and a profound commitment to fulfilling the Constitution's fundamental purposes, including especially its promise of liberty.

Keywords: Justice John Paul Stevens, Supreme Court, Biography, Jurisprudence

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