TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on May 9, 2025

Retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Souter died Thursday at age 85. Appointed in 1990 by President George H.W. Bush, Souter gradually moved toward the court’s liberal wing and was part of the majority that upheld the essential holding of Roe v. Wade, which recognized a constitutional right to abortion, The Hill reports. He also sided with the court’s liberal justices on major issues including affirmative action and religion. Souter served on the court for more than 19 years before retiring in 2009. A graduate of Harvard Law School, he continued to hear cases on the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals by sitting by designation. “Justice David Souter served our court with great distinction for nearly 20 years,” Chief Justice John Roberts said in a statement. “He brought uncommon wisdom and kindness to a lifetime of public service.”