This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/8028185.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| US Supreme Court judge 'retiring' | US Supreme Court judge 'retiring' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| US Supreme Court Justice David Souter plans to step down at the end of the court's current term, US reports say. | US Supreme Court Justice David Souter plans to step down at the end of the court's current term, US reports say. |
| The 69-year-old, one of four liberal-leaning judges on the bench, had informed the White House of his decision, media reports said. | The 69-year-old, one of four liberal-leaning judges on the bench, had informed the White House of his decision, media reports said. |
| Analysts say his retirement is unlikely to affect the balance of the court, which also includes four conservative judges and a centrist. | Analysts say his retirement is unlikely to affect the balance of the court, which also includes four conservative judges and a centrist. |
| Justice Souter had no comment on the reports, a court spokeswoman said. | |
| He was appointed to America's top court in 1990 by then President George H W Bush. | |
| Speculation over his retirement has been fuelled by his apparent failure to appoint any law clerks to work with him for the court's autumn session. | |
| His departure would give President Barack Obama the opportunity to nominate a replacement to the court. | |
| Some expect him to choose a woman - who would be only the third to serve on the Supreme Court. |