Justice Souter to Retire

[flylooper]

Let the caterwalling begin!

NPR.org, April 30, 2009 ·

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.

[BDFINALLY]

Originally Posted by flylooper

Let the caterwalling begin!

Midge Rendell?

[flylooper]

As a favor to Ed for getting Arlen to come into the tent???


Hmmmm. Let's see. We do need a woman, for sure.

[bassjones]

this one's not that big of a deal. he'll replace Souter with a like-minded justice. Then again, what are the chances he screws up like 41 did? Thinks he's getting another Souter and ends up appointing someone who aligns himself with Scalia, Thomas, Roberts and Alito?

[BDFINALLY]

Originally Posted by flylooper

As a favor to Ed for getting Arlen to come into the tent???


Hmmmm. Let's see. We do need a woman, for sure.

Ed, Hillary, 21 electoral votes, women in general...not in any particular order.

[Scratch33]

Originally Posted by flylooper

Let the caterwalling begin!

Caterwauling?

Hey, timing is everything!

[BDFINALLY]

if you'd like to hear caterwauling, he needs to leak the name now...Anita Hill

[flylooper]

Originally Posted by Scratch33

Caterwauling?

Hey, timing is everything!

Good catch. I don't think I've ever seen the word in print. My bad.

[baldheadeddork]

Originally Posted by BDFINALLY

if you'd like to hear caterwauling, he needs to leak the name now...Anita Hill

[flylooper]

Originally Posted by bassjones

this one's not that big of a deal. he'll replace Souter with a like-minded justice. Then again, what are the chances he screws up like 41 did? Thinks he's getting another Souter and ends up appointing someone who aligns himself with Scalia, Thomas, Roberts and Alito?

Well, Michelle Malkin has certainly started her caterwaul.

The fun will really begin if/when Obama has a pick to replace one of the conservatives. I'm going to lay in a few pounds of popcorn for the hearings.

[bassjones]

I'm hoping Scalia's just ornery enough to refuse to retire while Obama's in the White House.

My money's on Hillary for this one. I'll wager all my casino cash right now.

[jerome_oneil]

Originally Posted by bassjones

I'm hoping Scalia's just ornery enough to refuse to retire while Obama's in the White House.

My money's on Hillary for this one. I'll wager all my casino cash right now.

I'll take that bet, and lay on every casino cash dime I make for the next 90 days, too.

No way does he nominate her. As of right now, he's rid of her forever in three years. Putting her on the court does a whole lot of backwards assed crap, including.

1. Creating a need to get not one, but two major appointments through Senate confirmation.

2. Removing a pretty effective SoS.

3. Putting her in a position where he has to deal with her *forever.*

[baldheadeddork]

Put me in for that bet, too.

If there is an opening after Clinton steps down as SoS then I'd put her high on the list, but not now.

I also don't think Midge Rendell will be on the final short list, either. It presents too many opportunities to bring Obama political grief with no political upside for the trouble. Does anyone really think appointing Eddie's wife would have any effect on Pennsylvania in 2012?

[jerome_oneil]

Here's your girl right here.

Sonia Sotomayor - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bush I appointee to the federal bench. Clinton put her on the appellate bench. The right wingers hate her, and she's relatively young.

[jim schmidt]

It's nice to hear of a SCOTUS vacancy and to not have to worry about it.