From NPR:
NPR has learned that Supreme Court Justice David Souter is planning to retire at the end of the court’s current term.
The court has completed hearing oral arguments for the year and will be issuing rulings and opinions until the end of June.
Souter is expected to remain on the bench until a successor has been chosen and confirmed, which may or may not be accomplished before the court reconvenes in October.
At 69, Souter is nowhere near the oldest member of the court, but he has made clear to friends for some time now that he wanted to leave Washington, a city he has never liked, and return to his native New Hampshire.
Now, according to reliable sources, he has decided to take the plunge and has informed the White House of his decision.
Souter’s retirement would give President Obama his first appointment to the high court, and most observers expect that he will appoint a woman.
The court currently has one female justice — Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who is recovering from cancer surgery.
Obama was elected with strong support from women.
An Obama pick would be unlikely to change the ideological makeup of the court. Souter, though appointed by the first President Bush, generally votes with the more liberal members of the court, a group of four that is in a rather consistent minority.
April 30th, 2009 at 9:43 pm
So, how liberal a judge can he find?
April 30th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
As liberal as he likes. The question is, can he get away with picking a white male, who make up the bulk of the lunatics. But, he could find a few female inmates on the 9th circuit. Remember, less than 40 years ago, the Supreme Court found the death penalty unconstitutional. Not a single liberal on the current court believes it’s totally unconstitutional. Things can get much worse.
April 30th, 2009 at 10:13 pm
As a law student who just finished a course on Constitutional Law, I have to say Justice Souter is probably the justice I dislike the most.
I’m not optimistic that President Obama will nominate someone significantly better, but I am J. Souter is retiring.
April 30th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
Here’s how the Supreme Court justices ranked on Race when we did that quiz earlier this month. And guess who finished dead last…
1. Roberts 79.56
2. Alito 79.54
3. Thomas 72.81
4. Scalia 71.77
5. Kennedy 57.73
6. Breyer 37.00
7. Stevens 36.15
8. Ginsburg 31.19
9. Souter 31.08
April 30th, 2009 at 10:47 pm
Souter’s a medicority, and I’m glad he’s leaving. Obama will pick a liberal woman judge, but both he and media will portray her as a moderate.
April 30th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
And 30 Republicans will fall over themselves voting for the dictorial thug.
April 30th, 2009 at 11:36 pm
dictorial? is that a word?
April 30th, 2009 at 11:39 pm
justice Hillary Clinton.
Just a thought.
April 30th, 2009 at 11:52 pm
#8, I remember there being enormous speculation around Hillary potentially being a “good” justice for Obama to appoint. Now that she’s SecState I’m not sure she’d take it. It would give her longevity, a safe job for life. But SecState is surely more powerful (and more in the public eye) as far as the next few years are concerned…
May 1st, 2009 at 12:02 am
You’d sort of thought that it’d be Ginsberg or Stevens retiring. I guess they like their jobs better.
May 1st, 2009 at 12:47 am
#10 – Souter’s pretty notorious for disliking the job and DC. He very nearly quit after Bush v. Gore and largely became disenchanted with his colleagues who ruled in Bush’s favor. He’s been looking for an exit since then, and now that a Democrat is president, he has one.
Anyone else think this timing is suspicious, coming THE DAY AFTER the Dems essentially receive a filibuster-proof majority? I’m not prone to paranoia, but I’d wager dollars to donuts that Obama/Reid guaranteed to Specter in advance that he’d get to keep his seniority if he flipped, knowing Souter’s resignation was coming.
May 1st, 2009 at 1:38 am
I’d imagine before the end of Obama’s first term, Stevens and Ginsberg will have retired as well.
It only becomes interesting if one of the conservative 4 or Kennedy depart. All a potential Obama pick
does is preserve that seat as a liberal one for the next 15-30 years. A justice whom was appointed by
HW Bush btw.
May 1st, 2009 at 1:49 am
Justice Michelle Obama.
May 1st, 2009 at 1:59 am
Justice Rev.wright.God damn america.
May 1st, 2009 at 2:23 am
“Justice Michelle Obama.”
You know how to strike mortal terror into a guy’s heart, don’t you?
May 1st, 2009 at 3:00 am
Justice Bill Ayers.
May 1st, 2009 at 3:00 am
Justice Joe the Plumber
May 1st, 2009 at 3:47 am
Justice meghan mccain.
May 1st, 2009 at 3:49 am
Justice chris tingle matthews.
May 1st, 2009 at 3:50 am
Justice perez hilton.
May 1st, 2009 at 3:51 am
Justice susa boyle.lol
May 1st, 2009 at 6:06 am
Could Obama appoint himself?
May 1st, 2009 at 7:12 am
Try Justice Jennifer Granholm. She was born in Canada though, does that disqualify her?
May 1st, 2009 at 9:42 am
“Try Justice Jennifer Granholm. She was born in Canada though, does that disqualify her?”
Hey, she’s done such a crackerjack job of running Michigan…
Seriously, though, I don’t believe there’s a natural-born citizen requirement for SCOTUS. There should, however, be a requirement that you’re not a flippin’ moron, which would disqualify Granholm. The woman needs to go back to being a tour guide.
May 1st, 2009 at 9:59 am
Obviously, Souter wanted a Democrat to name his replacement. He has got to be the worst Republican in a very, very long time.
Look for Stevens and Ginsburg to retire during Obama’s first term.
May 1st, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Just to clear up the confusion, there’s nothing in the Constitution at all in regards to qualifications for a Supreme Court Justice. Obama could nominate my 2-year-old niece if he got the hankering.
Besides, don’t forget that Estrada wasn’t born in the U.S. and the Dems smeared him as hard as they could.