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Retired former Supreme Court Justice David Souter has died at the age of 85, the Supreme Court confirmed in a statement obtained by NBC News Friday (May 9) morning.
"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," Chief Justice John Roberts said in the statement.
"He will be greatly missed," he added.
Souter was selected by former President George H.W. Bush to replace liberal Justice William Brennan in 1990 and initially viewed as a candidate who Republicans believed would be a solid conservative, but quickly surprised supporters and opponents by being a moderate on the court and later a solid liberal vote on several issues including LGBTQ rights, the death penalty and abortion rights, during his nearly 19 full years on the Supreme Court. Souter did, however, dissent from liberal colleagues by siding with conservatives to stop the vote recount in Florida during the 2000 election, ensuring former President George W. Bush's first-term victory against then-Vice President Al Gore.
Souter announced his retirement in 2009, foregoing his lifetime appointment and was succeeded by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Hispanic and first Latina to serve on the Supreme Court and the first appointed by former President Barack Obama.