Justice David Souter to Resign

Well, it seems as though Justice David Souter is going to resign from the Supreme Court at the end of the term in June.

While a lot of people consider Souter a bit of a backstabber to the conservative movement (appointed by George H.W. Bush, but fell on the left in Roe v. Wade and Lee v. Weisman, a school prayer decision), he will undoubtedly be replaced by someone the GOP likes even less, given the Democratic majority and President.

I always wonder how timed these decisions are, with Souter choosing to leave shortly after the election of a Democrat to the White House and a strong majority that will make a liberal justice easily approved.

With privacy and internet rights looking to make an appearance on the docket over the course of the next few years (as well as numerous social issues) and a possible set of decisions on torture, if the AG brings charges (though it doesn't sound like there will), it could be an opportunity for the Democrats to fill a seat with a young left winger who will camp out for some time, and with John Paul Stevens just past his 89th birthday, Ruth Bader Ginsburg battling pancreatic cancer (also 76 years old; though perhaps still strong, as she survived one bout with cancer already) and Stephen Breyer at 70 may give the Democratic Senate and President an opportunity to re-enforce the liberal end of the bench with young ideologues.

For better or for worse (and, as someone who falls on different sides based on the case, it's a little of both for me) that's how it may play out over the next four years.