David Souter

David Hackett Souter (/ˈsuːtər/; 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.^[2] 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.^[3][4]

David Souter
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
In office October 3, 1990 – June 29, 2009
Nominated by	George H. W. Bush
Preceded by	William Brennan
Succeeded by	Sonia Sotomayor
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
In office May 25, 1990 – October 9, 1990
Nominated by	George H. W. Bush
Preceded by	Hugh H. Bownes
Succeeded by	Norman H. Stahl
Associate Justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court
In office 1983–1990
Nominated by	John Sununu
Preceded by	Maurice Bois
Succeeded by	Sherman Horton
Associate Justice of the New Hampshire Superior Court
In office 1978–1983
20th Attorney General of New Hampshire
In office January 15, 1976 – April 1978
Governor	Meldrim Thomson Jr.
Preceded by	Warren Rudman
Succeeded by	Thomas D. Rath
Personal details
Born	David Hackett Souter (1939-09-17)September 17, 1939 Melrose, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died	May 8, 2025(2025-05-08) (aged 85) Hopkinton, New Hampshire, U.S.
Political party	Republican[1]
Education	Harvard University (BA, LLB) Magdalen College, Oxford (BA)
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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).^[4]

Retirement

Following Souter's retirement announcement in May 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Sonia Sotomayor as his replacement.^[5]

Souter died at his home in Hopkinton, New Hampshire on May 8, 2025, at the age of 85.^[6]

Related pages

• Supreme Court of the United States