Supreme Court Justice Stevens Opens Up

November 28, 2010 5:01 PM

Scott Pelley interviews Justice John Paul Stevens upon his retirement from the U.S. Supreme Court after 35 years.

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by mvonv December 2, 2010 9:02 AM EST: Justice's locker rooms, oath of office crib notes, and even Babe Ruth/Yankee memorabilia? You've got to be kidding...who cares????; Reply to this comment


by scuzle December 1, 2010 4:14 PM EST: Any person who would attempt to belittle Justice Stevens with partisan is doing a severe injustice to themselves and to his legacy as one of the greatest jurists this country has seen. His dissent in Bush v. Gore inspired to become a lawyer. As a law student and Con Law fan, I would like to point out that Justice Stevens' greatest strength was his adherence to the principle of stare decisis. However, though his opinions are logical and supported by legal authority, his greatest strength is his common sense application of legal doctrine. Disagreeing with his opinions is permissible, acceptable and invited, as republican durability is inherently tied to vibrant public discourse on important issues such as the law. However, you must look at him through a different lens other then party politics. In Bush v. Gore he said "Time will one day heal the wound to that confidence that will be inflicted by today's decision. One thing, however, is certain. Although we may never know with complete certainty the identity of the winner of this year's Presidential election, the identity of the loser is perfectly clear. It is the Nation's confidence in the judge as an impartial guardian of the rule of law." He was a justice that genuinely believed that the rule of law was there to serve the people; and as a legal practitioner it was his responsibility to apply it equitably and thoughtfully. To only look at his opinions politically would be detrimental to his legacy as Justice for the people.; Reply to this comment


by longtree-2009 December 1, 2010 5:09 AM EST: bet he is retiring with a huge pension and countless perks.; Reply to this comment


by picturefan2 November 30, 2010 2:03 AM EST: I'm astonished that Justice Stevens was not asked about the Roe vs. Wade decision where he was part of the majority. Perhaps because it might have embarrassed him? Unfortunately he will go down in history as a judge who helped initiate a still-ongoing holocaust in the United States, the murder of millions of innocents which will overwhelm anything else he did on the court. In a conflict of rights, a right of privacy was elevated above a higher right to life and untold millions have died as a result. May God have mercy on his soul.; Reply to this comment


by airjackie November 29, 2010 11:10 PM EST: Facts don't change no matter how you spin it and history will show Bush stold the election with the support of political Justices. Even the Tillman Act of 1907 if read is clear it stopped corporations from paying for candidates but some choose to spin the writen word to support the lies. Americans would be wise to read for themselves as it seems even a copy paste isn't enough for the lies to continue. Rand Paul is on a mission to end the Department of Education there by making only the chosen people able to read, write and understand as others will do nothing but follow blindly as we see done today by many Americans.; Reply to this comment


by airjackie November 29, 2010 6:23 PM EST: God Bless Justice Stevens for allowing Law Students to know the US Constitution was right and the 5 Justices decision was based on politics not law. His fear for the High Court is listed in Article II section 4 of the US Constitution which it seems many Americans, Law Makers and reporters haven't read. Obama did point that out but corporation paid Justice Alito shut him down. Stevens knows if an audit of the Justices was done 5 would be removed for taking bribes from corporations for a vote. Citizens United will go back to the same paid 5 Justices to pass an illegal low which was done in 1730 which gave only wealthy property owners the right to select a representative. As it took the Bill of Rights and the US Constitution to be pass that gave We The People the rights of the United States. As Stevens said when an American can be held in jail without charges/bail/attorney it can happen to any American. Only countries with dictators rule in that manner. Bush violated the Constitution because of the ignorance of people and the greed of Law Makers. Stevens must have dropped his head in shame when Rep. Boehner stood on the House steps and couldn't read the first words of the US Constitution yet now he's Speaker of the House. Chief Justice Roberts lied under oath in his hearing and admitted he decides cases like baseball games. Scalia wont answer why he violated the Constitution and Slappy Thomas does was he's told. Alito was known to favor business as a New Jersey Judge and is now doing as told as a Justice. When the Highest Court in the Nation is corrupt the people have no where to go for Justice. Slappy Thomas got busted with his lie when several woman came forward to say he had sexually assaulted them but they were denied to speak at his hearing because the Republicans wanted the Committee and public to think it was only Anita Hill but thanks to Slappy's wife calling Anita, the other woman finally got their say. The founder of the Supreme Court and first Chief Justice John Jay must be crying in heaven at how corrupt the court has become.; Reply to this comment


by thang4tran November 29, 2010 2:42 PM EST: please don`t go; Reply to this comment


by MajorTom222 November 29, 2010 2:03 PM EST: jgrj:

If Bush had lost Ohio, Kerry would have been President. That certainly does not bespeak of winning soundly, now does it? You should also know that dozens of Republicans in Ohio have been sent to jail for their clandestine involvement in election fraud in that particularly election.

Let me guess, jgrj, you're either from the South or you're a citizen from a Rustbelt state; so let me ask you: how did the Rustbelt become the Restbelt and remain the same all these many years? Or put another way: "What's Wrong with Kansas?" By the way, of course I know that Kansas is not a Rustbelt state.; Reply to this comment


by jgrj November 29, 2010 12:43 PM EST: Citizens United did not overule laws that expanded 100 years! That is an outright lie! Please provide that information CBS. Buckly 1976- against restrictions of Corporate speech, Bellotti 1978- Corporations have first amendment speech. Austin 1990 was the first case to allow for gov restriction-a) for state elections and b) for the compelling interest of " possible" curruption. It also did not say corportations could spend as much as they wanted. They held that they would be held to the same standard of disclosure and limits. It lifted the ban on where the money comes from- general treasury or PAC. The only harm done to the insitution of the Supreme Court is Stevens bashing his former justices, and no supporting the US Constitution Freedom of Speech. _ hmmm equalizing wealth- sounds like Obama language. Speaking of speech I posted this comment last night and it has dissaperared.; Reply to this comment


by dvonbargen November 28, 2010 11:26 PM EST: I read in the NY Times online, and also in my local newspaper, that Chief Justice John Paul Stevens would talk
about how he changed his position on the death penalty, during 60 Minutes. But that part was excised !
I was SO disappointed. That was what I really wanted to hear about. What happened?; Reply to this comment