Stephen Breyer

Stephen Gerald Breyer (/ˈbraɪər/; born August 15, 1938) is an American politician, academic and lawyer. He was an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. He was appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1994. Breyer was generally associated with the more liberal side of the Court.^[1]

Stephen Breyer
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
In office August 3, 1994 – June 30, 2022
Nominated by	Bill Clinton
Preceded by	Harry Blackmun
Succeeded by	Ketanji Brown Jackson
Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
In office March 1990 – August 3, 1994
Preceded by	Levin H. Campbell
Succeeded by	Juan R. Torruella
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
In office December 10, 1980 – August 3, 1994
Nominated by	Jimmy Carter
Preceded by	Seat established
Succeeded by	Sandra Lynch
Personal details
Born	Stephen Gerald Breyer (1938-08-15) August 15, 1938 (age 87) San Francisco, California, U.S.
Spouse(s)	Joanna Hare ​ (m. 1967)​
Children	3
Education	Stanford University (BA) Magdalen College, Oxford (BA) Harvard University (LLB)

In January 2022, Breyer announced that he would be retiring from the Supreme Court at the end of the term.^[2] Breyer left the court on June 30, 2022 when his retirement became official. He was replaced by Ketanji Brown Jackson.^[3]

Background

Breyer is of Jewish descent.^[4] Breyer generally supported a liberal interpretation of the law; he is pro-choice and pro-civil liberties. Breyer had the second-longest tenure as the most junior justice on the bench. Breyer was also the only justice to appear on a quiz show (Wait Wait Don't Tell Me). Before being a judge, he was a professor at Harvard Law School and a judge on the First Circuit Court of Appeals. Breyer is an Eagle Scout.