Appointed by President Richard Nixon in 1971, Justice Lewis F. Powell Jr. served on the Supreme Court until his retirement in 1987. Known as a pragmatic and moderate voice, Powell was pivotal in shaping the Court’s decisions during a period of significant social and legal change. His balanced approach often made him a swing vote in contentious cases, reflecting his belief in judicial restraint and careful deliberation.
Powell’s most famous opinion came in Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978), where he authored a plurality opinion that upheld affirmative action while rejecting racial quotas in college admissions. This case set a precedent for the permissible use of race as a factor in achieving diversity. Powell was also instrumental in First National Bank of Boston v. Bellotti (1978), which expanded corporate speech rights under the First Amendment.
In criminal law, Powell’s influence was seen in McCleskey v. Kemp (1987), where he joined the majority in rejecting a racial bias claim in death penalty sentencing, a decision he later expressed regret about. His nuanced positions in areas such as privacy, education, and the death penalty cemented his reputation as a thoughtful and cautious jurist. Powell retired in 1987 and passed away in 1998.
