Stephen Breyer was an influential U.S. Supreme Court justice known for his pragmatic and often liberal approach to constitutional interpretation. Born in 1938 in San Francisco, California, Breyer graduated from Stanford University, the University of Oxford as a Marshall Scholar, and graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School. Before his appointment to the Supreme Court, Breyer had an extensive legal career, including serving as a law clerk for Associate Justice Arthur Goldberg, and later as a professor and lecturer at Harvard Law School. His experience in the judicial system, including as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, shaped his views on the law, which emphasized practical consequences over strict textual interpretations.
Appointed to the Supreme Court in 1994 by President Bill Clinton, Breyer was known for advocating a flexible, context-based approach to constitutional law. He frequently argued that the Constitution should be interpreted in light of contemporary societal needs and the practical realities of governance. Breyer often aligned with his liberal colleagues on issues like abortion rights, environmental regulations, and the death penalty. A strong proponent of judicial restraint, he believed that courts should respect legislative authority while still ensuring that laws align with fundamental rights. Breyer retired from the Supreme Court in 2022, leaving behind a legacy of thoughtful legal reasoning and a commitment to justice.