Image composite. Left: The sitting Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court. (Matthew Cavanaugh/epa/Corbis). Right: Justice Souter at his home in Weare, NH, in July, 1990. (Jim Cole/AP Images)
Supreme Court Justice Announces Retirement
Justice David Souter to leave nation's top court in June
Supreme Court Justice David Souter announced on Friday that he is retiring. Souter told President Barack Obama he plans to step down after the Court recesses in June.
President Obama told reporters on Friday that he is "incredibly grateful" for Souter's "dedicated service." Obama praised Souter for having "shown what it means to be a fair-minded and independent judge."
The announcement came as a surprise to many in Washington, D.C. Souter is 69 years old, younger than five of his fellow Justices.
But Justice Souter reportedly told many of his friends that he did not like living in the nation's fast-paced capital. He prefers his quiet home in Weare, New Hampshire.
Souter left New Hampshire in 1990 when President George H. W. Bush appointed him to the country's top court.
The Justice's upcoming departure gives the President an opportunity to appoint a new Supreme Court Justice.
Appointing members of the Court is one of the most important responsibilities of a President. When Supreme Court Justices are appointed, they can remain on the Court for the rest of their lives. They decide for themselves how long they stay.
How does someone become a member of the Supreme Court? It starts with the President.
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| Pictured above: U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C. (istockphoto.com) |
Step 1: Presidential Nomination
First, Obama will nominate someone to become a Supreme Court Justice. The President consults with top advisers before making his choice. He and a team of legal advisers review the careers, characters, and interests of many qualified people.
Step 2: Special Review
When the President finally makes his choice, he submits his nomination to the Senate for a vote. Before the Senate votes, the nominee meets with the Senate Judiciary Committee in a series of confirmation hearings.
During confirmation hearings, members of the Judiciary Committee question the nominee about his or her experience, personality, and opinions on major legal and political issues.
If the majority of Judiciary Committee members vote against the nominee, the President must choose another nominee.
Step 3: The Senate Votes
If the Judiciary Committee approves a nominee, the entire Senate debates the nomination. This gives all Senators a chance to discuss their feelings about the nominee.
Since 1789, the Senate has rejected roughly 20 percent of the nominees. Senators scrutinize a nominee's background because, once approved, the nominee is a Justice for life.
Step 4: Taking a Seat
When a nominee finally wins a majority vote in the Senate, he or she takes a sacred oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States.
President Obama knows what qualities he is looking for in his Supreme Court Justice nominee.
"I will seek somebody with a sharp and independent mind and a record of excellence and integrity," he said on Friday. "I will seek someone who understands . . . how our laws affect the daily realities of people's lives."
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