SCOTUS Historical Society Event with Justice Alito

April 9, 2014 / Michelle Olsen

The Supreme Court Historical Society held a panel discussion about judicial biographies, hosted by Justice Samuel Alito at the Supreme Court on April 9.

The tweets below are observations from the event, including some interesting comments by Justice Alito during the program, held in the courtroom, and at the reception after.

The Historical Society supports research, programs, and publications about the Court. Justices are often present at the events. Information about membership is here.

The Supreme Court gift shop, which sells autographed copies of justices’ books and many other items, supports the Society’s work. 

Justice Alito recommends http://t.co/NDPCml88HB as a resource for learning about #SCOTUS.
— Michelle Olsen (@AppellateDaily) April 10, 2014

Justice Alito: Both the Historical Society and the Fellows program were the "brainchildren" of CJ Burger. #SCOTUS
— Michelle Olsen (@AppellateDaily) April 10, 2014

Alito & his wife went to lecture by a judge some yrs ago that was very boring. Alito guessed boring bc judges limited in what they can say.
— Michelle Olsen (@AppellateDaily) April 10, 2014

...His wife said, "No, it's because judges are very boring people." Alito: "She's never wrong."
— Michelle Olsen (@AppellateDaily) April 10, 2014

#SCOTUS-Justice Alito attended the reception after and spoke with many people.
— Michelle Olsen (@AppellateDaily) April 10, 2014

I asked Justice Alito if he would like to do a book. It was a decided no. #SCOTUS
— Michelle Olsen (@AppellateDaily) April 10, 2014

Alito was interested to read, re Heller, that he's a gun "enthusiast." Gun use almost exclusively when in Army, he told small group. #SCOTUS
— Michelle Olsen (@AppellateDaily) April 10, 2014

Event itself re judicial biographies. Panelists have written about #SCOTUS justices. Interesting pros and cons of deceased or live subject.
— Michelle Olsen (@AppellateDaily) April 10, 2014

Pro of live subject is the original source; pro of deceased subject is that others more willing to talk about person. #SCOTUS
— Michelle Olsen (@AppellateDaily) April 10, 2014

Prof. Stephen Wermiel @AUWCL talked about being chosen by Justice Brennan to write his bio. Met in secret at Court, pored over papers.
— Michelle Olsen (@AppellateDaily) April 10, 2014

Panelist Clare Cushman gave high marks to co-panelist book: Judge John Ferren on Justice Wiley Rutledge: http://t.co/67BmcLltNR #SCOTUS
— Michelle Olsen (@AppellateDaily) April 10, 2014

...Among the impressive and long list of sources noted at end of the Rutledge book is Justice John Paul Stevens, a Rutledge clerk. #SCOTUS
— Michelle Olsen (@AppellateDaily) April 10, 2014

Highlights: Stevens on 60 Minutes ("He Knows How to Throw a Punch")

A few highlights from Sunday's 60 Minutes piece on retired Justice John Paul Stevens (linked here):

1-Retired Justice David Souter, in a cameo appearance, said, "John Stevens plays by the rules, but he knows how to throw a punch." And with respect to Stevens standing up for detainee rights: "That's what you've got courts for. He was earning his salary. . . . That made him one of the great judges."

2-When asked if he thought the Citizens United majority "legislated from the bench," Justice Stevens responded, "Yes."

3-However, he declined to impute political motives to the Bush v. Gore majority, stating instead that it was "unwise" and "profoundly wrong."

4-Justice Stevens, at age 12, and his family were robbed at gunpoint in their home. The robbers had threatened to shoot the family, but fled when a neighbor came to the front door unexpectedly.

Stevens' father, who had been very wealthy, but lost his fortune in the Depression, was convicted of embezzlement. The Illinois Supreme Court later reversed the conviction for lack of evidence. Stevens said that this experience "may well have" shaped his view of the system, i.e., that it sometimes convicts innocent people.

5-Debated legend has it that in a 1932 World Series game at Chicago's Wrigley Field, Babe Ruth pointed to center field and then hit a home run there. Stevens was at that game and says it is no legend. It happened.

Also check out the "Web Extras" (Stevens on Gay Marriage and the Death Penalty).

Free Bow Ties for Justice Stevens' Last Day

Update to previous post about Monday:

Tom Goldstein will be giving away free bow ties for Justice Stevens' last day, see here.

A Circle of Life Kinda Day

In 1787, Benjamin Franklin wondered if the sun painted on the President's chair at the Philadelphia convention was rising or setting.  On Monday, the answer is both.

Beginning at 10:00 am ET, the Supreme Court will issue its last decisions of the Term and Justice Stevens will leave the federal bench after almost forty years, five with the Seventh Circuit and nearly thirty-five with the Supreme Court.  Then, at 12:30 pm, the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings for his replacement, nominee Elena Kagan, will start.

Supreme Court: Stevens Denies Blagojevich Stay Request

Update re: previous post about Rod Blagojevich's pending application with the Supreme Court, to delay his trial:

SCOTUSblog is reporting that Justice Stevens has denied the request and that the trial will start next week, as planned.

Update: Supreme Court Justice Does Not Reject Blagojevich Request Outright

Update to previous post regarding Rod Blagojevich and the trio of honest services fraud cases pending before the Supreme Court:

The Chicago Sun-Times is reporting today that Justice Stevens has given federal prosecutors until next Friday to respond to Blagojevich's request to the Supreme Court, seeking a stay in his trial pending the Court's decision on the honest services fraud cases.

Judge Sid Thomas, Recent Opinions, Part II

As noted in yesterday's post, the most recent majority opinion of Judge Sid Thomas upheld a death sentence.

In some ways, the case is unremarkable: a garden-variety habeas matter including typical claims such as ineffective assistance of counsel. However, there is one startling aspect, in that the defendant actually requested the death penalty, telling the judge that he was a violent person fascinated with killing who did not believe he could be rehabilitated. Later, the defendant changed his mind, resulting in a chain of appeals nearly thirty years long. Judge Fletcher dissented from Thomas' majority opinion, finding that ineffective assistance of counsel in the case had been prejudicial.