Justice John Paul Stevens

The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund wishes to commend Justice Stevens upon the announcement of his retirement from the Supreme Court at the end of this term.

“Justice Stevens’ decades on the Court will be recorded in history as one of the most remarkable legacies in recent years. Justice Stevens is known as a stalwart in his protection of civil rights and civil liberties. For racial minorities and others who relied on the courts to secure full participation in our democracy, Justice Stevens will be missed. By waiting to retire until the age of 90, Justice Stevens surpassed any expectation of public service in the federal judiciary. We thank him for his tremendous contribution to the cause of justice and wish him a joyful retirement,” said John Payton, President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

It is LDF’s hope that the next Justice nominated to our nation’s highest court will continue Justice Stevens’ approach to upholding the Constitution in a way that has guaranteed equality for all Americans. LDF urges President Obama to seek the qualities that made Justice Stevens such an outstanding jurist such as a willingness to uphold fundamental principles of fairness and equality and to ensure that even the powerless have access to our justice system.