Supreme Court's Breyer to Speak at Law Commencement

Breyer has been praised throughout his career for his skill at building consensus, and Supreme Court observers have cited his efforts at achieving a unified opinion rather than outlining his own.

Stephen Breyer

"We are honored to have Justice Breyer address the graduates this year," said Law School Dean John H. Garvey. "He is one of the most important figures in contemporary American law - a man of extraordinary intellect, great integrity, and a lifelong commitment to serving the public interest. I am happy for the members of the class of 2003 that he will be joining them at this important point in their careers."

Breyer, who worked as a law clerk to Justice Arthur J. Goldberg during the Supreme Court's 1964 term, was appointed to the First US Circuit Court of Appeals in 1980 and became chief judge of that court in 1990. He was nominated by President Clinton for the Supreme Court in 1994.

An assistant special prosecutor during the Watergate hearings in 1973, Breyer also worked as a special counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee in 1975 and was credited with developing a complicated economic plan used to deregulate the airline industry. Breyer served as the committee's chief counsel from 1979-80.

Breyer, who taught for 13 years at Harvard University, is a graduate of Stanford University, Oxford University (Magdalen College) and Harvard Law School.

He has served as a member of the Judicial Conference of the United States and the United States Sentencing Commission. He has written books and articles in the field of administrative law and government regulation.

-Law School Communications Manager Nathaniel Kenyon

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