show bio Stephen Breyer

Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court Stephen G. Breyer was nominated by former President Clinton and took his seat August 3, 1994. He served as a law clerk to Justice Arthur Goldberg of the U.S. Supreme Court during the 1964 Term, as a Special Assistant to the Assistant U.S. Attorney General for Antitrust, 1965–1967, as an Assistant Special Prosecutor of the Watergate Special Prosecution Force, 1973, as Special Counsel of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, 1974–1975, and as Chief Counsel of the committee, 1979–1980. Before his confirmation to the Supreme Court, he served as a Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, and as its Chief Judge, 1990–1994.

A Discussion About the Supreme Court
Date: 3/15/2006

Clinton School Founding Dean Pryor interviews Justice Stephen Breyer about his experiences on the U.S. Supreme Court. Breyer shares the story about his confirmation to the court. He recalls learning of his nomination through an announcement on television and said that it was a very moving experience. In making decisions on the bench, Breyer says that he uses as sources such as text, history, tradition, precedent, values, purposes, and consequences, all of which he says are influential in the process. Breyer also talks about drawing on his own experiences as he weighs controversial decisions. When asked about enforcement of rights during wartime, Breyer says he believes that the Constitution is the law of the land in times of peace and times of war. In a discussion about cameras in the courtroom, Breyer states that it is important that people understand how the court works, but there is concern from the bench that the presence of cameras could damage the institution.

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