Souter Says Goodbye to Supreme Court

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.”

“We have agreed or contended with each other over those things that matter to decent people in a civil society,” Souter continued. The remaining eight justices, in a letter of their own, told Souter “we have all felt a profound sense of loss” over his retirement, though “we understand your desire to trade white marble for White Mountains” of Souter’s home state of New Hampshire. (More David Souter stories.)