Here's an in-depth look at the life of former Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens.

Personal: Birth date: April 20, 1920

Birth place: Chicago, Illinois

Birth name: John Paul Stevens

Father: Ernest James Stevens, hotel owner

Mother: Elizabeth (Street) Stevens

Marriages: Maryan (Simon) Stevens (December 1979 - present); Elizabeth Jane (Sheeren) Stevens (June 7, 1942 - 1979, divorced)

Children: with Elizabeth: John Joseph (deceased), Kathryn, Elizabeth, Susan

Education: University of Chicago, A.B., 1941; Northwestern University School of Law, J.D., 1947

Military Service: U.S. Naval Reserve, 1942-45, decorated Bronze Star

Other Facts: Has suffered from heart disease.

Partial to bow ties and enjoys flying, competitive bridge, and tennis.

A life-long Republican, but is considered a liberal in his judicial 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.

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.

1953-1955 - Member of the 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 -Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

December 19, 1975 - Is sworn in to the Supreme Court, appointed by Gerald Ford.

December 12, 2000 - Writes the dissenting opinion in Bush v. Gore.

June 29, 2006 - Authors the majority opinion in Rasul et al v. Bush, deciding the Guantanamo detainees must have a court-martial.

April 9, 2010 - Stevens' retirement is announced and becomes effective June 29, 2010.