JOHN PAUL STEVENS CAN FINALLY REST EASY
During the course of the presidential election we heard all about the economy, battling terrorism, cutting taxes, and saving the environment. But for myself, as a criminal defense attorney, there was one over riding issue: Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens. Originally a Ford appointee in the mid 1970s, Mr. Stevens has been serving on the US Supreme Court for over thirty years. You don't hear much about him in the news. He is less colorful than many of the other more outspoken justices. When they show the photos of all the justices in the New York Times after a big opinion has been handed down, he is the gentleman in the bow tie who appears to be markedly older than the other justices. In fact, Mr. Stevens is now well into his 80s. My biggest fear this election season was we would lose Mr. Stevens' wisdom on the court and he would be replaced by a Palin/McCain appointee. This was just too much for me, an independently minded voter who leans left on some issues, right on others.
You see, Mr. Stevens has usually been over the years that crucial 5th vote on all those Supreme Court opinions involving our First, Fourth and Sixth Amendment rights as well our right to privacy. He is one of the justices most concerned about the rights of the criminally accused and for making sure that our zealous pursuit of justice does not mean we toss out our constitutional guarantees protecting all of us from unjust and unconstitutional criminal prosecution by the government. As for the second amendment, he and I respectfully disagree. But hey, no one's perfect.
So Justice Stevens, I say relax, enjoy, and perhaps think about retiring sometime in the next two or three years to a life of pleasure and peace after work so well done for so long. It is safe to do so now and thank you for remaining on the bench these long past eight years as the court hung in the balance between established precedent and reactionary revisionism. By remaining on the bench, you have ever so quietly, and ever so completely, protected all of us from losing many of our most cherished constitutional liberties. May God bless you, as he has blessed us with your long life and service.
