Farewell to Mr. Justice Souter.

[elleng]

It was soon time for Roberts to announce "with sadness that this is the last session" for Souter. The other justices sat up in their chairs. Souter stared down at the desk in front of him. Reading from a letter to Souter from the justices, Roberts quoted Robert Frost as he wished his colleague well in his "return to your land 'of easy wind and downy flake.' " Only when Roberts got to the end, about "the privilege of your sturdy friendship," did Souter finally look at the chief justice.

"I have written the following reply," Souter said dryly, as if preparing to read a dissent. A ripple of laughter went through the courtroom. "You quoted the poet, and I will, too, in words that set out the ideal of the life engaged, 'where love and need are one,' " Souter read. "That phrase accounts for the finest moments of my life on this court, as we have agreed or contended with each other over those things that matter to decent people in a civil society."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/29/AR2009062903545.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

[patrice]

1. Interesting sketch. I knew someone like that once.

He too was somewhat of an "outsider" in this world.

[Blue_Tires]

2. i remember back when he was nominated

as a kid i never heard of him or had much interest in politics then, but my uncle was screaming up and down at the tv news that night about how Souter was too much of a right-wing loon...how much has the line shifted since THOSE days??