David Souter, the late former US Supreme Court Justice who surprised everyone with his liberal decisions after being appointed to the court by a conservative president, died peacefully at his New Hampshire residence on Thursday. Souter was 85. The Supreme Court announced his death in a formal statement, as Chief Justice John Roberts described Souter as one who served with “uncommon wisdom and kindness” in nearly two decades of service.
Born in Weare, New Hampshire, on September 17, 1939, Souter was an only child who was a high academic achiever. He graduated from Harvard University, attended Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, and received a law degree from Harvard. His legal career involved stints as New Hampshire’s attorney general and judge on the state’s superior and supreme courts before his short time on the US Court of Appeals.
Named to the Supreme Court in 1990 by President George H. W. Bush, Souter was initially anticipated to be conservative. Yet he often sided with the court’s liberal faction, backing abortion rights and campaign finance reform. His decisive vote in the 1992 Planned Parenthood v. Casey case saved Roe v. Wade, disappointing conservative hopes. He also dissented in Bush v. Gore, denouncing the Court’s ruling halting the 2000 election recount.
Souter retired in 2009, paving the way for President Barack Obama’s appointment of Justice Sonia Sotomayor. He was remembered as humble and private, who lived modestly, shunned publicity, and vigorously opposed camera coverage of courts. President Obama eulogized him as “fair-minded and independent” and praised him for his integrity and compassion.
A firm believer in judicial restraint, Souter reasoned that reversing precedent might undermine the public’s faith in the Court. His own legacy is one of a fair-minded jurist who kept the law separate from politics.
