Justice Souter to Retire

By On April 30, 2009 · 9 Comments · In Random

iconWow. I really thought Stevens or Ginsburg would be the first ones to retire during the Obama Administration.

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 to return to his native New Hampshire.

Heh. A city he has never liked…

 
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!

9 Responses to Justice Souter to Retire

  1. Jason D. says:
    April 30, 2009 at 11:57 pm

    This event probably colored his view of DC a little bit: http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/05/01/souter.assaulted/

  2. Zaid says:
    May 1, 2009 at 1:35 am

    Obama should nominate Jonathan Turley.

    (swoons)

  3. J.M. Prince says:
    May 1, 2009 at 3:27 am

    Souter wanted to resign during or immediately after the Election 2000 debacle. He was just so PO’d over the entire deal. He thought it was wholly ‘illegitimate’ what the USSC did with Bush vs Gore. So he’s bided his time and waited for the next Dem in. He was one of GWHB’s choice for the court, (the other being our very own benighted Clarence Thomas).

    But Souter’s been about as decent a once formerly ‘mainstream Repug’ as we’re likely to see ever nominated for the USSC. He’s actually improved on the court and became more moderate in some respects too. The world of ‘respectable NE moderate Repug’s’ just disappeared from the landscape. Recall he was one of Sen. Warren Rudman’s bud’s. But again I feel like I’m recalling ancient history here.

    Obama will probably nominate a consensus woman, (Pam Carlin?) for the seat. It’s long overdue. JMP

  4. PaulaG says:
    May 1, 2009 at 8:59 am

    Or a Hispanic. Maybe an Asian?

    Is there a half-Asian, half-Hispanic woman legal scholar out there somewhere? Talk about your consensus candidate.

  5. PaulaG says:
    May 1, 2009 at 9:10 am

    In all seriousness, my guess is that Judge Sonia Sotomayor is the front-runner.

  6. Jules says:
    May 1, 2009 at 9:42 am

    What about Justice Leah Sears?

    I’m starting to get cranky with current admin having few very few southerners in inner circle, she at least would make for a very interesting choice.

    Or Rendell’s wife… uumm where have I heard that?

  7. MelGX says:
    May 1, 2009 at 12:40 pm

    AJC says two people with “Georgia connections” are on the short list: Leah Sears and Deval Patrick

    http://tinyurl.com/ccxo5z

  8. Sarawaraclara says:
    May 1, 2009 at 5:23 pm

    Justice Sears impresses the hell out of me. I’ve seen her at oral arguments twice now and she is just so obviously both incredibly smart and full of class. I really really hope that’s who he picks.

    I have also heard wonderful things about Diane Wood of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. She is supposed to be a total genius.

    But I agree, Sotomayor fits pretty much every target he would have with the pick.

    This is probably the most wide open and unobstructed a nomination process that Obama will ever get, with a supermajority and no public ill-will towards his picks, so this really is the time to appoint a young liberal lion who will fight it out for decades to come. I think everyone expects that he has to pick a woman to make up for the loss of O’Connor.

  9. Jules says:
    May 1, 2009 at 5:57 pm

    I had the honor to help a little on her election campaign in 2004, she’s a lovely person too.. I’d really like to see this happen.

Archives

Categories