Okay. Something else for Pres Obama to think about. While this is a good thing, I wonder if he ever looks out the windows of the White House and wonders "What the hell is next?"

Keith, I bet he gets off on the challenge. They always say that Presidents want crises.

Jack B. Nimble: "They always say that Presidents want crises. "

A SC appointment isn't quite a "crisis," to me.

Also, Obama has nearly a dozen topics that rise to that level, imo -- not counting whatever Fortune next decides to throw at the US with or without the crisis midwifery of Bush.

i had a soft spot for souter, too. one of the first songs parodies i ever wrote for premiere radio networks was to the tune of the archies' "sugar, sugar" titled "souter, souter."

I will miss Souter.

The anticipation of a new appointment reminds me of Bush's nomination of Harriet Miers.

What an idiot.

May Souter have a happy retirement, and may he finally have the courage to come out of the closet. It might make Lewis Powell's ghost happier too.

coral: it reminds me of the fight over Bork.

The Best Song Ever about the Bork fight is here:

http://new.music.yahoo.com/sweet-honey-in-the-rock/tracks/our-side-won--840318

O.K., I'll start it. For the next Supreme Court Justice, I give you Bill Clinton.

What say you conservatives?

First Arlen Specter switches parties and then David Souter announces his retirement. The Republicans have Obama on the run.

I would have thought that this would be a relatively easy one for Obama.

For one thing, his team would have known going in that there would almost certainly be a SC appointment or two coming up at some stage. There must already be a list in the drawer.

For another, Obama himself taught constitutional law, so this is squarely within his field of expertise.

For another, he's now got 59 Democrats in the Senate, and might have 60 reasonably soon.

How hard can it be?

@Robert Merkel

Famous last words

I submit Glenn Greenwald and Jonathan Turley for consideration and support.

It's a testament to how utterly far right SCOTUS is that not only is Souter considered a "liberal" but that progressives are teary-eyed nostalgic about him retiring.

Obama is POTUS now -- let's shake off the battered spouse syndrome.

This will prove rather interesting given Senator Specter's decision to switch parties. Let's see how committed a Democrat he is when President Obama's replacement pick hits the Judiciary Committee. Granted, with his party switch, he'll no longer be raking member, that should go to Orrin Hatch, but he'll still have a chance to question the nominee and vote.

I too liked Souter, in part because he greatly exceeded my expectations. I wish him well in retirement. However, at 70 he has only another 20 years on the Bench (lol). Seriously, it will give the President a chance to appoint someone younger and build a longer-lasting liberal base.

Bob

I imagine the Repubs will filibuster anyone to the left of Antonin Scalia and claim (s)he's a radical liberal socialist. I hope we get someone good.

There's still Stevens, who's 89, and a few others who're getting up there.

May Souter have a happy retirement, and may he finally have the courage to come out of the closet.

Coming soon to a courthouse near him in NH: Equal marriage!

Hilzoy,

Your last sentence is just plain lovely. What a beautiful image to have of Souter in his retirement, a hope for contentment, beauty, and harmony.

I love reading your posts. Thanks for writing so we can all enjoy it.

As a NH native who's been on many of those lakes and mountains, I wish David Souter many years of enjoying the natural beauty of our home state.

I also wish President Obama's next nominee a good 45 years on the bench, shoring up the liberal wing for generations.

Climate changes are having a terrible impact on NH, including our lovely autumns.

I too wish (soon-to-be Senior) Justice Souter a happy retirement. I had the pleasure of meeting (technically, it was interviewing with) him when he was newly appointed to the First Circuit. He seemed very nice, and frighteningly intelligent. I hope that he gets to enjoy many years working as a senior judge on the 1st Circuit, if that is what he wants.