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Justice Souter Retires from Supreme Court
By
John Del Signore
Published May 1, 2009
Modified May 1, 2009
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By
John Del Signore
Published May 1, 2009
Modified May 1, 2009
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After more than 18 years on the Supreme Court, Justice David Souter will retire at the age of 69. Appointed by George H.W. Bush in 1990 to replace Justice William Brennan, the formerly conservative Souter went on to establish a reputation as the "surprise justice" on the Supreme Court, frequently siding with the Court's more liberal wing. His retirement will give President Obama his first opportunity to nominate a Supreme Court justice, but is unlikely to change the ideological makeup of the Court. (There is speculation that Obama will appoint a woman, since there is only one female justice on the court.) Souter, a lifelong bachelor, is reportedly in fine health, and Washington insiders theorize that he's simply ready to quit DC, a city he's never liked, and retire to his family farm in rural New Hampshire. Others suggest Souter was waiting to step down until Bush was out of office; it's said that he was appalled by the Court's decision in the 2000 Florida ballot disputes that handed the presidency to George W. Bush. One colleague tells CNN: "He was very aggrieved by December 12, 2000. He believed it was the ultimate politicization of the Supreme Court."
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John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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