This New Yorker profile of Justice John Paul Stevens shows what a loss to the Supreme Court his (probably impending) retirement will be. My wife clerked for Stevens in 2007-2008, and I got to meet him on one occasion. He came across as a very gracious and obviously brilliant man. The article is also a good illustration of how far to the Right the GOP has moved in the last thirty-five years. (Stevens was considered a moderate Republican when he was appointed by President Ford.)