Offering frequent news and analysis from the majestic Evergreen State and beyond, The Cascadia Advocate is the Northwest Progressive Institute's unconventional perspective on world, national, and local politics.

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Justice Souter to retire, NPR says

National Public Radio is reporting that Justice David Souter plans to retire at the end of the United States Supreme Court's current term, giving President Obama the opportunity to nominate a new Supreme Court justice.

According to NPR: "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."

Souter, sixty nine, has served as an Associate Justice of the Court since he succeeded William J. Brennan in 1990. He was appointed by President George H.W. Bush and is one of the four more progressive justices on the Court.

UPDATE (Friday morning): The text of Justice Souter's resignation letter...
Dear Mr. President:

When the Supreme Court rises for the summer recess this year, I intend to retire from regular active service as a Justice, under the provisions of 28 US.C 371(b)(1), having attained the age and met the service requirements of subsection(c) of that section. I mean to continue to render substantial judicial service as an Associate Justice.

Yours respectfully,

David Souter
The speculation is already ramping up... who will President Barack Obama nominate to fill the vacancy on the Court?

Comments:

Blogger Mike Barer said...

This will be one of the first tests of the Obama administration.

May 6, 2009 10:10 AM  

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