July of 1997, the nation lost one of its most influential and powerful legal minds. Justice William Brennan died at the age of 91, almost seven years to the day since his retirement from the Supreme Court. Considered by many to be the embodiment of the liberal interpretation of the Constitution, Justice Brennan authored a significant number of landmark opinions (only William O. Douglas wrote more). On topics ranging from due process to obscenity, from the death penalty to birth control, William Brennan left an indelible mark on modem law. Serving under eight Presidential administrations, Brennan was often at the center of the Warren Court’s liberal majority decisions. Even as the political tide turned under the guidance of Warren Burger and William Rehnquist, Brennan became the vocal spokesman for the Court’s minority and succeeded on occasion to pull the majority over to his side.