John Paul Stevens

John Paul Stevens is the longest-serving Associate Justice on the Supreme Court. He was appointed by President Gerald Ford in 1975. Justice Stevens administered the oath of office to incoming Vice President Joe Biden on January 20, 2009.

Stevens was nominated to replace William O. Douglas when he retired in 1975. On December 19, 1975, Stevens was confirmed by the U.S. Senate with a 98-0 vote.

On April 9, 2010, it was officially announced by Stevens that he would be stepping down and retiring from his current role as a US Supreme Court Justice.http://www.newser.com/story/85652/justice-john-paul-stevens-will-retire.html Stevens, the court's oldest member, plans on leaving some time between June and July when the court finishes its work for the summer. Because Stevens is retiring, his position will need to be filled by President Obama and successfully confirmed afterward.

Speaking about this process, and alluding to how long it can take, Stevens stated his hope that the new candidate will be seated "well in advance of the commencement of the court's next term".http://www.newser.com/story/85652/justice-john-paul-stevens-will-retire.html Justice Stevens will turn 90 years old on April 20, 2010.

Stevens ranks as the second oldest Justice in the Court's history. If he continues to serve until February 24, 2011, he would pass the current record held by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. for 90 years and 310 days. Stevens also holds the record for being the ninth longest serving Justice in the history of the Court. If he serves beyond July 12, 2012, he would surpass the record of 36 years and 209 days held by William O. Douglas.