John Paul Stevens, whose 35 years on the United States Supreme Court made him the second-longest serving justice ever, died Tuesday at the age of 99 following a stroke he had suffered the day before. While Justice Stevens was appointed by a fellow Republican in 1975, he retired from the court in 2010 as the leader of the court’s liberal wing. On Tuesday, many praised Justice Stevens’s legal prowess and service, contrasting the justice’s nonideological, soft-spoken approach with a court that has become increasingly polarized. “A son of the Midwest heartland and a veteran of World War II, Justice Stevens devoted his long life to public service, including 35 years on the Supreme Court,” Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. said in a statement announcing Justice Stevens’s death. “He brought to our bench an inimitable blend of kindness, humility, wisdom, and independence.

Source: New York Times July 17, 2019 03:43 UTC