NBC: Souter to retire from Supreme Court
His retirement would give Obama his first chance to nominate a justice
NBC News and news services
updated 9:06 p.m. PT, Thurs., April 30, 2009
WASHINGTON - Supreme Court Justice David Souter plans to retire, after more than 19 years on the court, once the current term ends in late June, NBC News reported Thursday night.
A retirement by Souter, 69, would give President Barack Obama his first chance to nominate a justice and the next few months would bring Senate confirmation hearings. His departure, however, isn't likely to change the court's liberal-conservative composition, because his successor will almost certainly be moderate to liberal, NBC News correspondent Pete Williams reported.