David Souter's Last Day On The Supreme Court

WASHINGTON — It's Justice David Souter's last day on the Supreme Court and he'll be ruling on a case familiar to the woman nominated to replace him.

It's a reverse discrimination case filed by white firefighters in New Haven, Conn. They argued they were discriminated against when the city tossed out the results of a promotion exam because too few minorities scored high enough on it.

Sonia Sotomayor, who has been nominated to take Souter's seat, was one of three appeals court judges who ruled that New Haven officials acted properly.

That's one of the cases the high court is dealing with Monday before justices begin their summer break.

Souter said he'd retire when the court rises for the summer recess. He was named to the court in 1990.

Comments

[drumgoolie]

Thank you for your integrity, your unexpected compassion and your intelligence in service to the SCOTUS. God bless you Justice Souter.

[NewYorkStateofMind]

his eminent domain opinion was disg-usting

I can't see him leave soon enough

[wehrke]

He will forever be known for his pathetic decision on eminent domain that makes it easier for government to trample on individual property rights. I say good riddance.

[KeysDan]

Justice Souter is a national treasure. While I surely wish him a well-deserved retirement, it seems to be a shame not to enlist his talents and experiences in the cause of better government. President Obama should make him Attorney General so as to really decontaminate the wretchedness of the Bush Department of Justice. Eric Holder could be reassigned to a spot more suited to his ability and integrity: walking Bo.

[SwingingFromCenter]

"National treasure" is right--he's a treasure to the "nation", not the people. His ruling on eminent domain sealed that one.

[OkieIntellectual]

Sometimes the good of the whole is more important than the good of the one. Its way past time that folks in this country learn that and stop being so selfish and self-serving.

[sandi57]

You have served with integrity and wisdom. We will miss you Justice Souter. Thank you for serving!

[JBoss27]

Sotomayor's decision regarding the civil rights case in New Haven was just overturned by the Supreme Court. Yet another decision of her's that they have reversed. Worthless nominee.

[SwingingFromCenter]

At least the Supreme Court got it right. I mean really, who in their right mind could have thought that a city going "if we'd have had one minority even come CLOSE to scoring as well as all these white guys, we'd have hired that person no matter what" was legal?

[take10]

If one of the questions was 'Name at least three of your neighbors who attended the last K K K meeting with you,' you would fell the same way, knowing that African Americans are not allowed unless they have a death wish. You people had it made regarding paid employment for over 400 years. You feel entitled while allowing a few "others" in, to give the illusion that there is no discrimination in hiring practices. How many of the 19 Caucasians were Irish? The 5 republicans Ayatollahs of the supreme court , of which three were responsible for selecting the worse President in our history, were predisposed to come to the decision they made. They are loyal to the republican party. Their agenda, like the rest of the republicans, is to turn back the clock to the days of Jim Crow! Fire departments across the nation are notorious for being very racist and bigoted organizations in hiring practices. Sotomayor will be seated, and future appointees may very well reverse the discriminatory decisions of the present court! No one lives forever!

[take10]

I include Alito and Roberts in "the same" because they don't make any decisions that would not be made by the Justices they replaced!

[seryously]

Hmmm.... do you know much of O'Connor? Granted, she may...MAY.­... have sided with the majority, but for different reasons. To pool her with Alito, her replacement, is a grave misunderstanding of her role on the court and Alito's history of decisions.

[madatnewsmedia]

No more so than some that are sitting on the bench now!

[super8]

Providing evidence that sometimes - maybe often - the person who least wants the job is exactly the person you want for the job.

Happy retirement, Mr. Souter.

[chargerman]

The government can take your property for any reason it deems fit thanks to this man's vote.

Too bad he didn't leave after that vote.

[dphilip]

The governemnt can "liberate" your property for any reason...Y­ou see, the dems are all about freedoms and liberties.­...

[jwredd]

Really? You guys are blaming a supreme court decision you don't like on the on the dems? Because I've got a couple that I would like to blame on your side......

[whatthel]

Justice Souter has earned the legacy of excellent Supreme Court Justice.

[scotuswatcher]

Justice Souter has consistently been one of the sharpest questioners during oral argument on the Court. He has a strong sense of history and a mastery of nuance in argument of which his detractors, judging from their blanket and prejudiced statements, have not the slightest idea.

He will be very much missed.

[frappe]

Let's just hope that Roberts, Scalia, and Thomas follow suit.

[frappe]

...and thank you, Justice Souter for your years of valuable service to your country.

[frappe]

oops, and I'd like to add Alito to that list, above.

[larry278]

I 2d your motion, frappe. It would be interesting to see who Pres Obama would select to fill 4 vacancies on the Supreme Court.
We might get a Chief Justice who could remember the correct words of oaths he/she gives or use 1 of the new gadgets that store & display the correct words of an oath, etc. In this era you have to be markedly visually impaired or be a complete dolt to fail to repeat the full & correct text of an oath, etc. The screens on these gadgets often are large. The preasant Chief Justice could use a 3 x 6 inch screen. All he has to do is ask for a larger screen. The 111th Congress & Pres Obama would see that CJ Roberts got a device with a larger screen at once.
Those of you who choose to criticize a deciscion or decisions Mr Justice Souter made should remember the fact that Mr Justice Souter never liked Washington, DC, made no secret of his feelings about DC & will be happy to leave the bench & DC.

[littlechuckie]

Justice David Souter,
Thanks for your service to our country.

[provgrays]

Souter's black legacy is his deciding vote on Eminent Domain.
Thanks to him, the government can take your property for any reason it deems fit.

This little man doesn't deserve the gushing praise he has received.

[forza]

thanks Justice David Souter's for not being a tool for the republican party