Ex-justice want even more diversity on high court: Stevens visiting TX for Progressive Forum event

Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens served on the nation's highest court longer than all but two members, retiring in June at the age of 90. Appointed by President Gerald Ford in 1975, Stevens came to be regarded as the leader of the more liberal faction of the court, though he periodically departed from liberal members on matters such as affirmative action and prohibitions against burning the American flag. He was replaced by Elena Kagan.

Stevens is in Houston to appear at a public event sponsored by the Progressive Forum tonight at the Wortham Center's Cullen Theater. The event, billed as a conversation with Stevens and Progressive Forum President Randall Morton, is sold out.

Stevens spoke with Chronicle reporter Mike Tolson...

Q: Sometimes those who disagree with Supreme Court decisions claim that justices who voted for them are acting in too "activist" a manner. Do you see so-called judicial activism as a problem?

A: Certain decisions can be criticized as activist decisions. I think the decision in the Citizens United case (that allowed unlimited corporate spending on political campaigns) last year fits that quality...

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7296456.html


I miss him already.