Obama Hopes to Replace Souter by Oct.

President Obama said today he will replace retiring Supreme Court Justice David Souter with someone who shares the president's respect for "constitutional values" and hopes to have "him or her" seated by the start of the next term in October. In a dramatic flourish, Obama interrupted White House spokesman Robert Gibbs' daily press briefing to announce that he had just talked to Souter.

Obama thanked Souter for his dedicated service and quickly looked ahead to the nomination of a replacement. “As I make this decision," the president said, “I intend to consult with members of both parties, across the political spectrum. And it is my hope that we can swear in our new Supreme Court justice in time for him or her to be seated by the first Monday in October.” (More President Obama stories.)