Justice Stevens Leaves Distinct Legacy In Land Use Jurisprudence
- Apr 19, 2010
- 6 min read
Since Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens announced his retirement a few weeks ago, he has been hailed - and reviled - as the Court's "great liberal voice" of the past couple of decades. But especially in land use, Stevens' legacy rests with not only his ardent support of government regulatory power, but also his skill in mustering five votes, on a pretty conservative court, in favor of aggressive use of land use regulation. President Obama's choice to replace Stevens will undoubtedly be "liberal" - but it remains to be seen whether this replacement will be as skilled at building majorities in land use cases.
