Retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens Dies at 99

185 July 17, 2019 | by Cheryl Kahla

U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens – the third longest-serving Justice in the history of the Supreme Court – died at the age of 99.

Stevens passed away at the Holy Cross Hospital in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, after suffering a stroke two days ago. The court said in a statement:

"On behalf of the Court and retired Justices, I am saddened to report that our colleague Justice John Paul Stevens has passed away."

According to the statements, his daughters Elizabeth Jane Sesemann and Susan Roberta Mullen were by his side.

Stevens served as Justice of the United States Supreme Court from 1975 to 2010, when he retired after more than three decades.

He was a registered Republican before being appointed as Justice but refrained from discussing his personal political viewpoint after his appointment was made.

According to NBC News, Stevens could be described as a "moderate conservative" who supported a strong separation of church and state.

In addition, Stevens advocated for gun control and challenged major gun control law. He wrote an op-ed in 2018 calling for the end of gun violence.

Following the Stoneman Douglas High School massacre, Stevens referred to the 2nd Amendment as "a relic of the 18th Century."

Stevens is survived by his children, Elizabeth Jane Sesemann and Susan Roberta Mullen, nine grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his first wife Elizabeth Jane, his second wife, Maryan Mulholland, as well as his son, John Joseph, and his daughter, Kathryn,