U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer to be honored with NYSBA’s highest award

NYSBA President Domenick Napoletano: ‘Justice Breyer stood up for the rule of law’

September 24, 2024 Robert Abruzzese, Courthouse Editor

Justice Stephen Breyer is set to receive the New York State Bar Association's Gold Medal at the Presidential Gala at The Plaza Hotel in January 2025 for his dedication to the rule of law. Photo by Susan Walsh

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The New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) has announced that retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer will be awarded its highest honor, the Gold Medal, at the association’s presidential gala on Jan. 16 at the Plaza Hotel in New York City.

“Justice Breyer’s loyalty is to the rule of law,” said NYSBA President Domenick Napoletano.

Napoletano highlighted Breyer’s dedication to impartiality throughout his nearly three decades on the nation’s highest court, where Breyer resisted being categorized by political labels. Instead, Napoletano noted, Breyer consistently prioritized the legal consequences of the court’s rulings, with a focus on how they would affect ordinary Americans.

“In a nation dominated by partisan politics, he argued against being labeled as a liberal or a conservative,” Napoletano said. “Instead, he cared most deeply about the consequences of the court’s decisions and how they would impact ordinary people.”

The Gold Medal, NYSBA’s most distinguished award, is reserved for legal figures who have made exceptional contributions to justice and the rule of law.

“There is no higher calling than that, and it is why he so richly deserves the Gold Medal,” Napoletano said. “He stood up for that principle for nearly three decades at the Supreme Court of the United States, the most prestigious court in the world.”

Breyer, who was appointed to the Supreme Court by President Bill Clinton in 1994 after serving 14 years on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, remains active in the legal field. He plans to return to hear cases in early 2025.

“I marvel at the ways Justice Breyer has served this country and the rule of law,” Napoletano added. “At 86 years of age, he’s still giving back by hearing cases and writing books.”

Napoletano expressed deep respect for Justice Breyer’s continued contributions, emphasizing how Breyer’s legal career extends well beyond his Supreme Court tenure, inspiring future generations through his teaching and publications.

“Through his writing and teaching, he has inspired so many young lawyers. In addition to his service as a judge, his experience as a government prosecutor and the chief counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee has given him a unique perspective that I’m sure will enthrall the guests at the presidential gala.”

Napoletano also spoke about Justice Breyer’s broader legal experience, from serving as a government prosecutor to working on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which provided Breyer with a wide-ranging perspective that will be a focus of his fireside chat at the gala.

Justice Breyer is the eleventh U.S. Supreme Court justice to receive the NYSBA’s Gold Medal, joining a list of esteemed past recipients, including Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagan and Thurgood Marshall.