David Souter

David Hackett Souter (; September 17, 1939 – May 8, 2025) was an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. He served from October 1990 until his retirement in June 2009. Appointed by President George H. W. Bush to fill the seat left by William J. Brennan, Jr., Souter sat on both the Rehnquist and Roberts courts and came to vote reliably with the court's liberal members.

Pre-Supreme Court
He was the only Justice during his time on the Court with court experience outside of a federal appeals court. He served as a prosecutor (1966–1968), in the New Hampshire Attorney General's office (1968–1976), as the Attorney General of New Hampshire (1976–1978), as an Associate Justice of the Superior Court of New Hampshire (1978–1983), as an Associate Justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court (1983–1990) and briefly as a Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit (1990).

Retirement
Following Souter's retirement announcement in May 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Sonia Sotomayor as his replacement.Sherman, Mark Souter says Goodbye to the Supreme Court, Washington Examiner, May 5, 2009

Souter died at his home in Hopkinton, New Hampshire on May 8, 2025, at the age of 85.

Related pages
Supreme Court of the United States

References

Category:United States Supreme Court justices
Category:Lawyers from Massachusetts
Category:1939 births
Category:2025 deaths
Category:Republican Party (United States) politicians
Category:Politicians from Massachusetts
Category:Politicians from New Hampshire
Category:Lawyers from New Hampshire