(CNN) -- U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens announced Friday he is retiring from the bench. Stevens, 89, is the oldest justice serving on the court.
Here are some quick facts about Stevens:
• Born in Chicago, Illinois.
• University of Chicago, bachelor of arts degree, 1941; Northwestern University School of Law, law degree, 1947.
• Served in U.S. Naval Reserve, 1942-45, decorated with Bronze Star.
• Protestant.
• Considered a liberal justice, though a wild card on some issues.
• Writes many dissenting opinions. His dissent in the 2000 case Bush v. Gore said, "Although we may never know with complete certainty the identity of the winner of this year's presidential election, the identity of the loser is perfectly clear. It is the nation's confidence in the judge as an impartial guardian of the law".
• Has had heart disease.
• Partial to bow ties and enjoys flying, competitive bridge and tennis.
• A lifelong Republican but is considered part of court's liberal wing in his rulings.
Timeline
• 1947-1948 -- Law clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Wiley Rutledge.
• 1949 -- Admitted to the Illinois Bar.
• 1949-1952 -- Associate at Poppenhusen, Johnston, Thompson and Raymond law firm.
• 1951 -- Associate counsel for the Committee on Judiciary, U.S. House of Representatives, on study of monopoly power.
• 1952-1970 -- Partner at Rothschild, Stevens, Barry and Myers law firm.
• 1953-1955 -- Member of the attorney general's National Committee to Study Antitrust Laws.
• 1969 -- Appointed chief counsel to the special commission to investigate integrity of the judgment of People v. Isaacs, Illinois Supreme Court.
• 1970-1975 -- Serves as a judge on the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
• December 19, 1975 -- Sworn in to the U.S. Supreme Court, appointed by President Ford.
• December 12, 2000 -- Writes dissenting opinion in Bush v. Gore.
• March 2010 -- Stevens tells the New Yorker magazine that he plans to retire from the Supreme Court within the next three years. He also says he will decide within the next few months whether or not to retire immediately.
• April, 9, 2010 -- Announces he will retire from Supreme Court.
CNN
