Last updated on: 12/15/2016 | Author: ProCon.org

William J. Brennan, Jr., JD Biography

Title:
Former US Supreme Court Justice
Position:
Not Clearly Pro or Con to the question "Should the Government Allow Immigrants Who Are Here Illegally to Become US Citizens?"
Reasoning:

“Whatever his status under the immigration laws, an alien is surely a ‘person’ in the ordinary sense of that term. Aliens, even aliens whose presence in this country is unlawful, have long been recognized as ‘persons’ guaranteed due process of law by the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments.”

Plyler v. Doe, June 15, 1982
Theoretical Expertise Ranking:
    Experts
Individuals with advanced degrees in fields relevant to immigration. Also top-level government officials (such as foreign leaders, US presidents, Founding Fathers, Supreme Court Justices, members of legislative bodies, cabinet members, military leaders, etc.) with positions relevant to immigration.
Involvement and Affiliations:
  • Professor, Georgetown University Law Center, 1990-1994
  • Associate Justice, US Supreme Court, Oct. 16, 1956-July 20, 1990
  • Supreme Court Judge, New Jersey Supreme Court, 1951-1956
  • Superior Court Judge, New Jersey Trial Court, 1949-1951
  • Attorney, private practice, 1945-1949
  • Major and Colonel, US Army, 1942-1945
  • Attorney, Pitney Hardin, 1932-1942
Education:
  • JD, Harvard University, 1931
  • BS, Economics, University of Pennsylvania, 1928
Other:
  • Born Apr. 25, 1906, died July 24, 1997
  • Appointed to the Supreme Court by President Eisenhower