Justice John Paul Stevens (1920-2019) died this week in Florida, at the age of 99. He served on the U.S. Supreme Court from 1975 to 2010.
Justice Stevens was from Chicago. He was born in Hyde Park and educated in University of Chicago schools. After serving in the Navy during World War II, he earned his law degree from Northwestern University School of Law. He was one of the founders of the law firm Rothschild, Stevens and Barry. This firm still exists today as Rothschild, Barry and Myers.
In 1970, Stevens was appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit by President Nixon. President Gerald Ford nominated him as an associate justice of the Supreme Court in 1975. He was confirmed 98-0 by the Senate.
Stevens is often presented as shifting from conservative to liberal views during his years on the U.S. Supreme Court. But those who knew him, and he himself, said political ideology was not the issue. He studied cases carefully so that he could apply the law the way it was intended. He was always considered an independent thinker.
Justice Stevens and his wife Elizabeth Jane (Shereen) lived in North Beverly for many years. They had three daughters and one son who attended Christ the King School. They were members of the Beverly Country Club. He and Elizabeth divorced and he married Maryan Mulholland Simon in 1979. His son, one daughter and both wives preceded him in death.
Justice Stevens is part of our local history. We are looking for people who remember Justice Stevens from his years in Beverly. If you can recommend anyone who would be willing to share with us, please send us a message.