Copyright 2004 The San Diego Union-Tribune
The San Diego Union-Tribune
April 8, 2004 Thursday
SECTION: LOCAL; Pg. B-3:1,7; B-4:2
LENGTH: 440 words
HEADLINE: Justice Stevens shares memories;
Former colleagues topic of USD talk
BYLINE: David E. Graham, STAFF WRITER
BODY:
Saying he would eschew "arcane propositions of law" for the evening, U.S.
Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens offered a San Diego
audience warm remembrances of former justices.
Former Chief Justice Warren Burger, for instance, had an extensive
knowledge of fine wines.
Stevens, who turns 84 this month, remembered Thurgood Marshall for his
humor. "He seemed to have a joke for every occasion," he said. "Unlike most
raconteurs, however, he never told us the same story twice."
Stevens spoke last night at the University of San Diego, giving the law school's
annual Nathaniel L. Nathanson lecture, which he also gave 20 years ago.
In a convivial recollection of almost three decades on the high bench, he told
of Potter Stewart's "rather candid comments" that he whispered to justices about
about lawyers' performances as they spoke before the court, "but as I remember
them, (they) practically reverberated throughout the courtroom."
Burger brought computer technology to the court that replaced a hot-lead print
shop, and he "literally changed the shape of the court," Stevens said, "by
ordering our carpenter to cut the bench into three sections and move each of the
two ends far enough forward to enable the two junior justices to see one
another."
Nominated to the bench by President Ford and taking his seat in December 1975,
Stevens recalled that Burger introduced the tradition of having a lunch and
toast on justices' birthdays and singing "Happy Birthday."
The talk offered a small glimpse into the court and its members, who typically
avoid the limelight and offer public comment sparingly. Indeed, television news
crews and newspaper photographers were barred from recording the event. Only
print media reporters were allowed into the auditorium. University officials,
however, were allowed to videotape the speech.
Stevens limited his reflections to colleagues who have left the court, except
for noting that Justice Clarence Thomas has "significantly improved the quality
of our singing" of Happy Birthday.
He recalled how Harry Blackmun, like himself, "had Illinois roots and shared the
perennial frustration of being ardent Cub fans."
Stevens remembered how he was going to pass on a formal Washington dinner with
the media shortly after joining the court because he did not have the required
white tie and tails. He reconsidered after Justice Bill Brennan urged him to go,
lending Stevens his set of tails.
"I have been eternally grateful for a generous act that made it possible for me
to spend an evening with the still-gorgeous and charming Ginger Rogers as my
dinner partner."
David Graham: (619) 542-4575; mailto:david.graham@uniontrib.com