Souter Trades Farmhouse for the 'Burbs

On his final day, a testament to friendship in the face of dissent

(NEWSER) - David Souter bid farewell to the Supreme Court today, but not before taking a moment to reflect on the rewarding bonds forged between him and his fellow justices, the AP reports. Though he will leave the court, Souter told his colleagues in an open letter that he would not “retire from our friendship, which has held us together despite the pull of the most passionate dissent.” More»

(NEWSER) - Supreme Court Justice David Souter thinks the worth of a jurist is “not in the great moments, but in being part of the great stream,” he said in an emotional farewell today to appeals-court judges. Souter said he didn’t intend that news of his retirement be leaked but was glad that it “gives me the chance to say some of the things on my mind," the Washington Post reports. Judges' value comes not from perfect decisions or trials but from being "members of a great guild," he said. More»

(NEWSER) - Head over the Piscataquog River, past some stone walls and chickenwire fences, and you’ll find a rickety farmhouse, its barn’s nameplate reading, “Souter,” reports Peter Schworm of the Los Angeles Times. The Supreme Court justice grew up in this sleepy part of New Hampshire, and his neighbors are thrilled he’s coming home to it. “This is his favorite place in the whole world,” said a town clerk. “It will be so good to have him back.” More»

It could air the court's 'dirty laundry': Richard Hasen

(NEWSER) - The Supreme Court could soon revisit the issue of campaign finance, and it's time we heard David Souter's opinion on the matter. Souter wrote an unpublished draft dissent against Citizens United, the case that opened the door to super PACs; it was an issue dear to his heart, notes Richard Hasen at Slate . The dissent was likely a scathing one: According to a New Yorker piece by Jeffrey Toobin, it "aired some of the Court’s dirty laundry." More»

WWII vet argued for Steve Vaillancourt's expulsion

(NEWSER) - State police were ordered to remove a Republican lawmaker from New Hampshire's House of Representatives after he shouted "Sieg Heil" and appeared to give a Nazi salute. Rep. Steve Vaillancourt said he was responding to actions of "tyrannical" House Speaker Bill O'Brien, whom he felt had restricted a Democratic lawmaker's remarks during a debate on voter identification, reports the Concord Monitor . More»