Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens the court’s oldest member and leader of its liberal bloc, is retiring.

Throughout his tenure, which began after President Gerald Ford nominated him in 1975, Stevens usually sided with the court’s liberal bloc in the most contentious cases — those involving abortion, criminal law, civil rights and church-state relations. He led the dissenters as well in the case of Bush v. Gore that sealed President George W. Bush’s election in 2000.

President Barack Obama now has his second high court opening to fill.

Justice Stevens, I salute your service to the bench.  Thank you for providing years of service and steadfast commitment toward deciding some of the nation’s most controversial legal issues.

Please contact my office if you, a friend or family member are charged with a crime. Hiring an effective and competent defense attorney is the first and best step toward justice.