Obama personally announces Souter's retirement
WASHINGTON (CNN) - Justice David Souter announced Friday he will retire from the Supreme Court, after informing the White House of his plans.
Souter, in a brief letter to the president, said "When the Supreme Court rises for the summer recess this year, I intend to retire from active service as a justice." The current term is expected to end in late June.
President Barack Obama - breaking into the daily White House news briefing - thanked Souter for his service and said he will choose as his replacement someone who understands "the realities" people go through every day, and someone who understands "the rule of law."
The president said he also will seek someone with a "sharp, independent mind" who has integrity and strives for excellence.
He described Souter as "not only a good judge, but a good person," adding, "I'm incredibly grateful for his good service."
"I wish him safe travels on his journey home and on the road ahead," the president said.
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To Obama Victim
This "LOSER" is the President of the United States. He does more in 1 day than you will do in your entire life. DEAL WITH IT! And yes I am a republican and I got just as angry when they disrespected Bush.
Bet Raymond Burris won't bes asked.. He may wish he had stayed in Chicago till now.
I am confident Obama will choose a very reasonable replacement who will be pro-choice, but in the mainstream, and watch the republicans shoot themselves by calling the nominee all kinds of names that will cause centrists to be further alienated from the GOP.
Lets Get the Party of the "scared old white men" outta here!!! Now, this is America!
Ego? Doesnt believe in Constitutional Rules? Ummm....I thought Bush left months ago. Rememeber guys....we had an election....an new, competent President was elected.....remember?
Go Obama.
Phoenix, Obama is NOT Pro-Abortion! When are both sides of this issue going to understand that it's an argument that will never be resolved like this? Both sides are essentially right! Abortion is a tragedy, and women are sometimes in the position where they have to be able to choose to have them! That's what Obama says! We have to attend to the larger problems for which abortion is only a symptom!
I am sure most of the negative comments are from people who voted for the other guy. such is life deal with it like the rest of the world had to dealw ith the last 8yrs...
It is really pathetic that everything that this President does is hammered, abused, criticized and condemned. Of course he knew the magnitude of what has happened and he decided to respect the people and announce it himself. PRAY, WHAT IS WRONG WITH THAT???
The true enemies of America are Americans
Andi May 1st, 2009 4:20 pm ET
Yeah, Jerry, I'm sure Obama is looking to abolish the Supreme Court…..you people are so angry and you really don't know what about. Give it a rest.
***************************
May I venture a guess as to what they're angry about?
Repubs were sucker-punched by the last administration, as Bush/Cheney failed in almost every area, and the few areas they did well were towards traditionally Democratic values.
The party lost it's credibility, and they didn't even get a chance to lose it while fighting for core neo-conservtive "values".
They put up a more centrist candidate then they wanted and he got his head handed to him (partially by his running mate.)
They are lost children. And they forgot to leave a trail of breadcrumbs.
yeah white presidents only!! ha I'm glad that tired old mold is broken. you whiners please get a life you are wearing me out and it's only been 100 days. not including the election drama from the far (soon to be passé ) right!!
Obama Victim
You might like to move to a different country, since you are so bitter living in USA and have Obama as a president.
I hope Obama appoints someone of Spanish descent.
why not FINALLY appoint Posner to the court??
HMMMM, Burris or Bill Clinton?
Haters die younger than people who love. This is only fair.
Amazing. Republicans fault Obama for doing *more* than is required of him. If he shows up for an extra press conference that he doesn't have to, they cry "ego, ego, ego." Obama promised transparency and communication, and he's keeping that promise; he's been talking directly to the American people more in his first 100 days than Bush did in any given year of his presidency.
Republicans prized Reagan as "the Great Communicator" (which is one of the few honors lauded on Reagan that he actually did deserve), but when Obama does the same thing they find a way to gripe about THAT, too. You're straining your credibility with all these complaints about everything, Repubs. You better stop crying wolf and dial back the hysterics or people won't listen to you if something truly WORTH complaining about comes up.
I saw Steele made a statement that he was withholding judgment on the replacement since "Obama ran as a moderate". They why do you keep calling his a socialist maxist?
hey Rick
Obama didn't push Gibbs aside or make an issue other than a positive remark . and then made his anouncment
lets keep the ball in the middle as you report the news and not act like FOX NEWS
@gslippy:
Hee heee
The Constitution IS a living, changing document!!
Ever heard of 'Amendments'?
Bwahaahahha!
I am not sure where CNN gets the najority its bloggers from. Their moronic comments on this blog
shows a very disturbing picture!!
This said, OBAMA has now the opportunity to show his
polical stature by:
– (obviously) ignoring the howl of the ultraright, - but also of the DEM LEFTIST (blatantly misnomed as
"LIBERALS"}
gslippy May 1st, 2009 4:23 pm ET
Make no mistake: "the realities people go through" is code for interpreting the Constitution as a living, changing document, NOT as the unchangeable rock it should be.
If it was a rock we would still own slaves and I wouldnt' have the right to vote or own land or do lots of things. You're stupid.
Obama,looking for someone with integrity,Guess that leaves the Democrats out?
Are the negative commenters here the ones who in fact have no job at present and therefore have time to poison the comment pages with their negative dribble? Wake up guys, we have a fabulous, kind, INTELLIGENT and very real President and in stead of spreading unintelligent junk, do something positive and support your President. He is doing a fantastic job.
Go Obama, Go! you are the Best and we love ya!
I'm a Conservative Republican who believes , "to the victor belongs the spoils". This is why I wanted a Republican to win the White House more than anything; to have the right to choose replacements for the next Supreme Court Jurists that open up over the next four years. We didn't win, so President Obama has the right to choose whomever he wants no matter how much it hurts. It's the political process.
President Obama may be the first president in quite a while who actually understands constitutional law. And... we will also (finally after 8 years) have ABA input again.
Oh... Mitch, Mitch Mitch – so afraid of diversity. So afraid of having a court move away form a fundamentalist right-wing conservative influence.