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Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens Announces Retirement at 89


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US News: Supreme Court Justice JP Stevens

While many others his age are loitering at bus stops and paying for purchases entirely with nickels, Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens has finally turned in his letter of retirement just over a week shy of his monumental 90th birthday. Not only holding the obvious title of the oldest member of court, his bragging rights also include being the leader of the liberal wing and having the longest-serving justice in history. After being appointed back in 1975 by President Gerald Ford, Stevens has spent the last 35 years being a key element in corralling narrow majorities, advocating gay and abortion rights, as well as singularly stating that the death penalty was unconstitutional. His retirement announcement on Friday came as no surprise; in the recent weeks, he was quoted in an interview with the Washington Post to be considering stepping aside, and that he would "surely" do so while President Obama was in office. While Stevens will be enjoying his retirement in the summer sun, Obama will be managing quite the headache in trying to fill such big shoes in his second highest court opening. On one side being urged by Democrats to choose a worthy replacement, he is also under the thumb of Republicans who are all too eager to probe and pounce on what is likely to be a liberal successor.

According to the president himself, the search is on for "an independent mind, a record of excellence and integrity, a fierce dedication to the rule of law and a keen understanding of how the law affects the lives of Americans." Currently, there are three individuals that are rumored to be strong candidates for the soon-to-be open position. Solicitor General Elena Kagan along with Diane Wood of Federal Appeals court, 49 and 59 respectively, were finalists in the last court justice running (which eventually went to Sonia Sotomayor). 57 year old Merrick Garland is also a favorite, a highly respected federal judge since 1997 and former high-ranking Justice Department official.