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WASHINGTON, D.C. (WBZ NewsRadio) — David Souter, a retired associate justice of the Supreme Court and Massachusetts native, died Thursday. He was 85.
Souter died peacefully at his home in New Hampshire, according to a press release from the court.
President George H.W. Bush appointed the New Hampshire Republican to the court in 1990, after serving for a short time on the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
“Justice David Souter served our Court with great distinction for nearly twenty years. He brought uncommon wisdom and kindness to a lifetime of public service. After retiring to his beloved New Hampshire in 2009, he continued to render significant service to our branch by sitting regularly on the Court of Appeals for the First Circuit for more than a decade. He will be greatly missed,” said Chief Justice John Roberts in a statement.
Souter often voted with the court’s liberal members. In 1992, he co-authored an opinion with Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, affirming the federal right to abortion under Roe v. Wade.
He also notably dissented to the decision in Bush v. Gore in 2000, which halted the recount of the presidential election in Florida and essentially declared George W. Bush president.
Souter retired from the court in 2009, giving President Barack Obama the chance to appoint Justice Sonia Sotomayor.
Souter was born on Sept. 17, 1939 in Melrose, Mass. He went on to receive undergraduate and law degrees from Harvard University and spent two years as a Rhodes Scholar at the University of Oxford.
He started work as a lawyer in Concord, N.H. and eventually worked his way up to attorney general of the state. He then became a judge on the New Hampshire Supreme Court for many years.
Along with hearing cases on the First Circuit, Souter participated in conservations around civics education curriculum reform efforts in New Hampshire, according to a press release from the court.