CHICAGO, May 9, 2025 —The American Bar Association is saddened to learn of the passing of former Supreme Court Justice David Souter and offers its condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.
Souter was a dedicated public servant whose career included positions as attorney general of New Hampshire, associate justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court and judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit before his term as a Supreme Court justice from 1990 to 2009.
His tenure was marked with honor and a dedication to the law and the Constitution despite the pressures of politics. He remained faithful to the idea of judicial restraint and his rulings remained firmly based on sound legal reasoning. He was a strong supporter of individual and civil rights, voting and affirmative action.
Souter gave the keynote address at the ABA’s 2009 meeting in Chicago, calling for a return to civic engagement and education and highlighting his concerns about the state of civil discourse and the importance of a well-informed citizenry. “Civic education has to be raised to a new power and why every one of us in this room has to see to it that civic understanding becomes a birthright of every American," Souter said adding that without this understanding, the ability of judges to be free from political pressures could be eroded.
Souter epitomized what a thoughtful, scholarly, independent Supreme Court justice should be. The ABA appreciates his service and will miss his wisdom.
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