CBN News - Liberal-Leaning Justice Souter to Retire
Liberal-Leaning Justice Souter to Retire
By Charlene Israel, CBN News Reporter
ACLJ Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow is interviewed about the Justice Souter retirement. You can watch that interview here.
CBNNews.com - Supreme Court Justice David Souter has announced plans to retire from the high court this year.
But his departure will not likely shift the balance of power on the court, since he's a liberal being replaced by a Democratic president.
Appointed to the Court in 1990
Souter was believed to be a conservative when he was appointed to the supreme court in 1990 by President George H.W. Bush.
"He recognizes the proper role of judges in upholding the democratic choices of the people through their elected representatives through their constitutional constraints," Bush said of Souter.
However, Souter surprised Bush and other Republicans by joining the court's more liberal wing, including voting to uphold abortion rights in the case of Planned Parenthood v. Casey.
Reason For Stepping Down Not Revealed
It is unclear why Souter is stepping down from the high court. But he is known to dislike Washington, and has talked about wanting to return to New Hampshire.
The 69-year-old justice spoke at George Washington University last March.
"I find the workload, what I do sufficiently great, that when the term of court starts I undergo a sort of annual intellectual lobotomy," he said. "And it lasts until the following summer when I sort of cram what i can into the summertime."
Some Think Obama Will Appoint a Woman As Successor
Souter's retirement from the bench means that President Obama will soon get to put his stamp on the Supreme Court. Some observers expect him to appoint a woman.
Souter wiill likely remain on the bench until his successor is confirmed.
There is also speculation that Obama will be able to appoint two more justices over the next few years.
Liberal justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and John Paul Stevens are believed to have been holding out for retirement until a liberal president was in the White House.
During his eight years in office, President George W. Bush only got to fill two vacancies on the high court. Bush appointed Samuel Alito when Sandra Day O'Connor retired. He also appointed John Roberts as chief justice when Chief Justice William Rehnquist died.