William J. Brennan Jr. | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 1972 | |
| Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States | |
| In office October 16, 1956 – July 20, 1990[1] | |
| Nominated by | Dwight D. Eisenhower |
| Preceded by | Sherman Minton |
| Succeeded by | David Souter |
| Associate Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court | |
| In office April 1, 1951 – October 13, 1956 | |
| Nominated by | Alfred E. Driscoll |
| Preceded by | Henry E. Ackerson Jr.[2] |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Weintraub |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William Joseph Brennan Jr. April 25, 1906 Newark, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Died | July 24, 1997 (aged 91) Arlington, Virginia, U.S. |
| Resting place | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses |
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| Children | 3 |
| Education | |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1942–1945 |
| Rank |  Colonel |
| This article is part of a series on |
| Liberalism in the United States |
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William Joseph Brennan Jr. (April 25, 1906 – July 24, 1997) was an American lawyer and jurist who served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1956 to 1990. He was the seventh-longest serving justice in Supreme Court history, and was known for being a leader of the Court's liberal wing.[3]
Born in Newark to Irish immigrant parents, Brennan studied economics at the University of Pennsylvania and then attended Harvard Law School. He entered private legal practice in New Jersey and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was appointed in 1951 to the Supreme Court of New Jersey. Shortly before the 1956 presidential election, President Dwight D. Eisenhower used a recess appointment to place Brennan on the Supreme Court. Brennan won Senate confirmation the following year. He remained on the Court until his retirement in 1990, and was succeeded by David Souter.
On the Supreme Court, Brennan was known for his outspoken progressive views, including opposition to the death penalty as he dissented in more than 1,400 cases in which the Supreme Court refused to review a death sentence, and support for abortion rights and gay rights. He authored numerous landmark case opinions, including: Baker v. Carr (1962), establishing that the apportionment of legislative districts is a justiciable issue; New York Times Co. v. Sullivan (1964), which required "actual malice" in libel suits brought by public officials; Eisenstadt v. Baird (1972), which established a legal right to contraception for unmarried people and helped solidify the sexual revolution; and Craig v. Boren (1976) which established that laws which discriminate on the basis of sex are subject to heightened scrutiny under the Equal Protection Clause.
Due to his ability to shape a wide variety of opinions and bargain for votes in many cases, he was considered to be among the Court's most influential members. Justice Antonin Scalia called Brennan "probably the most influential Justice of the [20th] century."[4][5]
- ^ "Justices 1789 to Present". Washington, D.C.: Supreme Court of the United States. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
- ^ "HENRY ACKERSON OF JERSEY COURT". The New York Times. December 11, 1970. Archived from the original on October 21, 2017. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
- ^ Liptak, Adam (May 7, 2009). "Souter's Exit Opens Door for a More Influential Justice". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
- ^ Brennan, Patricia (October 6, 1996), "Seven Justices, On Camera", The Washington Post, archived from the original on November 19, 2018, retrieved April 21, 2010
- ^ Antonin Scalia - Charlie Rose, retrieved October 17, 2022