Stevens was replaced by Sotomayor, who also voted with Breyer in this case. However, it is certainly true that a junior Associate Justice is not exactly a one-

Stevens was replaced by Sotomayor, who also voted with Breyer in this case. However, it is certainly true that a junior Associate Justice is not exactly a one-for-one replacement. Stevens' seniority and eloquence gave him an influence that will be hard to match. Ironically, when he first came onto the Court, Stevens was not regarded as a particularly effective Justice, because he wasn't a team player. Perhaps it simply takes time. And in that sense, perhaps we're better off having Sotomayor in place earlier, rather than having Justice Stevens try to serve for a few more years.