Justice Stevens Retiring at 90, Ending Marathon Supreme Court Tenure

A year ago, when John Paul Stevens celebrated his 89th birthday, I wrote Happy 89th Birthday, John Paul Stevens - Champion of Civil Rights! After congratulating him for reaching this milestone, I wished him many more years on the court, because we need this luminary who has consistently upheld our constitutional freedoms, protected our civil liberties, and fought against the death penalty and wrongful convictions.

Today, we read the saddening announcement that his marathon-like tenure on the Court is coming to an end. From the Supreme Court's press release:

Associate Justice John Paul Stevens has today sent the attached letter to the White House, notifying President Barack Obama of his retirement from the Supreme Court, effective one day after the Court rises for the summer recess this year. Justice Stevens has served on the Supreme Court for 34 years.

He will be sorely missed. In the next few weeks I hope to summarize some of his many precedent-setting opinions, as well as the ones in which he wrote powerful dissents. Justice Stevens leaves the next Supreme Court justice big shoes to fill.

* Huffington Post has a wonderful slide show:
Justice John Paul Stevens' 10 Most Important Supreme Court Decisions