Tributes Pour in for David Souter, Former US Supreme Court Justice
David Souter, the esteemed former US Supreme Court Justice, passed away Thursday at his New Hampshire home, prompting heartfelt tributes from friends, colleagues, and legal professionals. Wilbur A. Glahn, an attorney and close friend for nearly five decades, described Souter as a private but engaging individual with a passion for hiking and literature.
Souter, who served on the Supreme Court from 1990, was appointed by President George H.W. Bush. Although he was a Republican, he became known as part of the Court’s liberal faction, a shift some friends attribute to the Court’s changing dynamics rather than Souter’s personal beliefs. Throughout his career, he maintained a reputation for judicial conservatism while exhibiting a profound sense of fairness, especially in cases such as Planned Parenthood v. Casey, where he upheld abortion rights despite his personal convictions.
New Hampshire Supreme Court Chief Justice Gordon J. MacDonald remarked on Souter’s intelligence, humility, and reverence for the law, noting that the state’s Supreme Court conducts business in a conference room named after him. Tributes continued with Paul J. Twomey, a defense attorney, calling Souter a personal hero, while former US Representative Annie McLane Kuster remembered him as "brilliant" and "kind."
Souter’s connection to New Hampshire ran deep, having returned to his roots after studying at Oxford and graduating from Harvard Law School. He maintained enduring friendships in the community, including with Kuster’s family, for whom he served as a confidant. As friends and colleagues reflect on his legacy, Glahn expressed the profound personal loss, stating, “David was a brother to me.” Souter’s impact on the law and those around him will not be forgotten.
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