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5mo ago

Former Supreme Court Justice David Souter Dies at 85

The 'stealth nominee' appointed by George H. W. Bush became a pivotal liberal voice on the bench and continued his public service after retiring.

Supreme Court Associate Justice David H. Souter attends a news conference at the Supreme Court on May 28, 2003 in Washington, DC.
David H. Souter testifies during his Senate confirmation hearings to be a Supreme Court Justice in 1990.
After being presented to the public by Chief Justice William Rehnquist, then-Associate Justice of the Supreme Court David Souter poses during the traditional photo opportunity on the front plaza of the Courthouse in Washington DC, October 9, 1990.
Supreme Court Justice David Souter

Overview

  • David Souter, who served on the Supreme Court from 1990 to 2009, passed away peacefully on May 8, 2025, at his home in New Hampshire.
  • Initially nominated as a conservative by President George H. W. Bush, Souter surprised many by aligning with the Court's liberal wing on key issues like abortion and civil rights.
  • He co-authored the 1992 Planned Parenthood v. Casey decision, which upheld the core holding of Roe v. Wade and emphasized the importance of precedent in judicial rulings.
  • Souter dissented in the controversial 2000 Bush v. Gore case, criticizing what he viewed as the politicization of the Court's decision to halt the Florida recount.
  • After retiring at 69, Souter continued to serve for over a decade on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit and advocated for civics education reform.