The president and first lady arrived in the Supreme Court’s Great Hall just after 11 a.m. and stood briefly in front of Stevens’ coffin, which was placed atop the Lincoln Catafalque, before viewing a portrait of the late justice painted by James Ingwersen in 1991.
Dozens of Stevens’ former clerks lined the steps of the Supreme Court as his casket was brought into the Great Hall on Monday morning.
A memorial ceremony for the late justice was then held, which was attended by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Samuel Alito, Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kagan. Retired Justice Anthony Kennedy and Ashley Kavanaugh, wife of Justice Brett Kavanaugh, were also in attendance.
Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens laying in repose
The flag-draped casket of late Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens rests in the Great Hall of the U.S. Supreme Court, where he is laying in repose. Monday, July 22, 2019,
(Graeme Jennings/Washington Examiner)
Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens laying in repose
The flag-draped casket of late Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens rests in the Great Hall of the U.S. Supreme Court, where he is laying in repose. Monday, July 22, 2019,
(Graeme Jennings/Washington Examiner)
Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens laying in repose
The flag-draped casket of late Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens rests in the Great Hall of the U.S. Supreme Court, where he is laying in repose. Monday, July 22, 2019,
(Graeme Jennings/Washington Examiner)
Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens laying in repose
The flag-draped casket of late Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens rests in the Great Hall of the U.S. Supreme Court, where he is laying in repose. Monday, July 22, 2019,
(Graeme Jennings/Washington Examiner)
Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens laying in repose
The flag-draped casket of late Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens rests in the Great Hall of the U.S. Supreme Court, where he is laying in repose. Monday, July 22, 2019,
(Graeme Jennings/Washington Examiner)
Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens laying in repose
The flag-draped casket of late Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens rests in the Great Hall of the U.S. Supreme Court, where he is laying in repose. Monday, July 22, 2019,
(Graeme Jennings/Washington Examiner)
Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens laying in repose
The flag-draped casket of late Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens rests in the Great Hall of the U.S. Supreme Court, where he is laying in repose. Monday, July 22, 2019,
(Graeme Jennings/Washington Examiner)
Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens laying in repose
The flag-draped casket of late Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens rests in the Great Hall of the U.S. Supreme Court, where he is laying in repose. Monday, July 22, 2019,
(Graeme Jennings/Washington Examiner)
Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens laying in repose
The flag-draped casket of late Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens rests in the Great Hall of the U.S. Supreme Court, where he is laying in repose. Monday, July 22, 2019,
(Graeme Jennings/Washington Examiner)
Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens laying in repose
A view of the U.S. Supreme Court. The late Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens rests in the Great Hall of the U.S. Supreme Court, where he is laying in repose. Monday, July 22, 2019,
(Graeme Jennings/Washington Examiner)
Kagan, who replaced Stevens on the Supreme Court after his retirement in 2010, delivered brief remarks praising the late justice as a hero.
“He was a brilliant man with extraordinary gifts and talents, which he combined with a deep devotion to the rule of law and a deep commitment to equal justice,” Kagan said.
Among those paying their respects to the late justice was Judge Merrick Garland, the chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
Justices Clarence Thomas, Stephen Breyer, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh were not in attendance because of prior commitments.
Stevens died at a Florida hospital last week from complications of a stroke. Appointed to the Supreme Court by President Gerald Ford, he served for 35 years and retired at the age of 90.
Though Stevens was a moderate Republican when he was elevated to the Supreme Court, he became the leader of the court’s liberal bloc across his three decades there.
After stepping down from the Supreme Court in 2010, he went on to write three books, the most recent of which was released this year.
Stevens will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery on Tuesday.
