Who Is Stephen Breyer? Age, Biography and Wiki
As of 2025, Stephen Breyer is 86 years old, born on August 15, 1938. Breyer was appointed as a Supreme Court justice by President Bill Clinton in 1994 and served until his retirement in 2022. Throughout his judicial career, Breyer was known for his pragmatic approach to law and his emphasis on finding practical solutions to legal issues. Currently, Breyer is engaged in various academic and public speaking endeavors, sharing his insights on the judicial system and democratic governance.
Occupation | Supreme Court Justice |
---|---|
Date of Birth | August 15, 1938 |
Age | 86 Years |
Birth Place | San Francisco, California, U.S. |
Horoscope | Leo |
Country | U.S |
Popularity
Stephen Breyer's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While specific measurements for Stephen Breyer can be difficult to determine due to his age, he is approximately 6 feet tall. His weight has fluctuated over the years, and like most individuals, it is expected to reflect any changes associated with aging. As of 2025, Breyer's health appears stable, allowing him to continue his active involvement in law and education.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Stephen Breyer has been married to Joanna Hare Breyer since 1967, and the couple has three children together. His family is often seen as a pillar of support throughout his prominent legal career. As of 2025, there have been no indications or revelations of any romantic relationships outside his marriage.
(née Roberts) and Irving Gerald Breyer. Breyer was raised in a middle-class Jewish family. His father was a lawyer who served as legal counsel to the San Francisco Board of Education. Breyer and his younger brother Charles R.
Breyer, who later became a federal district judge, were active in the Boy Scouts of America and achieved the Eagle Scout rank.
Breyer attended Lowell High School, where he was a member of the Lowell Forensic Society and debated regularly in high school tournaments, including against future California governor Jerry Brown and future Harvard Law School professor Laurence Tribe.
Net Worth and Salary
Stephen Breyer's net worth is estimated to be around $10 million. His wealth has primarily come from his long-standing career in law, his time as a Supreme Court justice, and various speaking engagements. Justice Breyer is known to have received a substantial salary during his tenure on the Supreme Court, which has significantly contributed to his net worth.
Career, Business and Investments
Breyer's judicial career has been complemented by various roles in academia and public service. After his retirement from the Supreme Court, he has been involved in teaching at law schools and participating in panels discussing the future of the judiciary and democracy in the United States. While Breyer is not known for major business ventures or public investments, his legal opinions and writings have established him as a respected voice in legal and constitutional matters.
In 2015, Breyer dissented in Glossip v. Gross, which held by a 5–4 vote that prisoners challenging their executions must provide a "known and available" execution method before challenging their method of execution. In a dissent joined by Ginsburg, Breyer questioned the constitutionality of the death penalty itself.
He wrote, "For the reasons I have set forth in this opinion, I believe it highly likely that the death penalty violates the Eighth Amendment.
At the very least, the Court should call for full briefing on the basic question." In July 2020, Breyer reiterated this position, writing, "As I have previously written, the solution may be for this Court to directly examine the question whether the death penalty violates the Constitution."
Social Network
As a former Supreme Court justice, Stephen Breyer maintains a relatively low profile. However, his insights continue to be shared through various social media platforms, interviews, and public speaking events. While not actively engaged on personal social media, his influence can still be felt in legal discussions and public discourse surrounding judicial matters.
On June 23, 2021, Breyer authored the majority opinion in Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L., relating to the role of school regulation of off-campus student speech.
In his opinion he noted the importance of potential regulation of such speech by school authorities but acknowledged that such regulation was diminished due to the potential implication of a 24-hour restriction on student speech if fully realized, its traditional role under parental supervision, and the interest of schools in safeguarding the marke
tplace of ideas.
Despite this, Breyer stipulated that the utterance of profanity on social media did not constitute "substantial disruptance" of a school activity or threaten harm to others, writing, "the justifications offered for punishing Levy's speech were simply insufficient […] were she an adult, the First Amendment would provide strong protection".
Education
Stephen Breyer's educational background is impressive. He graduated from Stanford University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy. He then attended the University of Oxford as a Marshall Scholar, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE). Breyer later attained his LL.B. from Harvard Law School, where he also gained experience as an editor of the Harvard Law Review.
In conclusion, as we look at Stephen Breyer in 2025, his legacy as a jurist continues to inform discussions on the law, democracy, and justice, as he remains a prominent figure in American legal history.
Stephen Gerald Breyer (born August 15, 1938) is an American lawyer and retired jurist who served as an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1994 until his retirement in 2022. He was nominated by President Bill Clinton, and replaced retiring justice Harry Blackmun. Breyer was generally associated with the liberal wing of the Court.
Since his retirement, he has been the Byrne Professor of Administrative Law and Process at Harvard Law School.